CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS 25 



Going back to the course of the operation, when 

 the operator has reached the internal ring or its 

 immediate vicinity, many operators diverge from 

 the technic we have recommended. 



Instead of penetrating the ring, they push 

 somewhat upward and forward and penetrate the 

 fascia of the small oblique muscle. By this plan, 

 the insertion of at least one finger in the abdo- 

 minal cavity is necessitated, which, by the direct 

 method we have suggested, may be obviated. Be- 

 yond this, the operation is identical. 



It is, we believe, erroneously contended by the 

 advocates of this plan that prolapse of the abdo- 

 minal viscera is thereby obviated. The only cases 

 of visceral prolapse from cryptorchid castration 

 observed in our clinic have been patients operated 

 upon by experienced castrators who were uncom- 

 promising devotees to this plan, and applied the 

 technic in their operations. 



In the ordinary cryptorchid castration, where 

 the testicle is small and flaccid, and where it is 

 drawn through the ring by traction on the vas 

 deferens and epididjmiis or the withdrawal is sup- 

 plemented by the very slight dilation of the ring 



