PRACTICAL CRYPTORCHID CASTRATION 53 



pelvis where it becomes the pelvic fascia and 

 where it is more or less firmly anchored. I, there- 

 fore, often consider the internal ring in the ridg- 

 ling as being a thin area in the transversalis 

 fascia bordered anteriorly and inferiorly by this 

 arched band of fibers and posteriorly and super- 

 iorly by the shaft of the ilium, around which the 

 fascia is reflected into the pelvis and to which it is 

 more or less intimately attached. ■ This area as de- 

 fined is just about large enough to admit a hand 

 with ease. The recognition and protection of the 

 integrity of the borders of this internal ring is a 

 matter of much importance in the operation. 



In the process of passing the hand up the canal 

 and in locating the internal ring, the operator 

 may inform himself concerning a number of 

 things. If it is a second operation he may ob- 

 serve by the scar tissue how far up the inguinal 

 canal the previous operator went and where and 

 whether or not he entered the abdominal cavity. 

 If a diagnosis of side has been made, the operator 

 while in the canal confirms it by the absence of 

 the cord stump in the canal. One, of course, ob- 

 serves whether or not the testicle or any part of 



