PRACTICAL CRYPTORCHID CASTRATION 67 



absorb by capillarity, the juices collecting in the 

 wound and when removed, twenty-four hours 

 later, to leave an open, well-drained wound. In 

 suturing the wound it is well to leave the ends of 

 the sutures long so that they hang down a dis- 

 tance of four or five inches. This facilitates their 

 removal. The owner or caretaker of the patient, 

 if in country work, is shown how the stitches are 

 put in and how and when to remove them. 



Accidents Subsequent to Operation.- The 

 release of the patient from the casting harness 

 should be conducted with care. The period of re- 

 lease and until patient gains his feet, if attended 

 by struggling, is a time when intestines may be 

 forced down into the canal. Consequently this 

 is to be considered one of the danger periods. The 

 ropes must be removed with dispatch and removed 

 quietly so as not to excite the patient. When un- 

 tied the patient is given assistance in arising so 

 that awkward movements, as wide abduction of 

 the hind limbs, will not occur to open up the canal 

 and tempt intestinal protrusion. I believe that 

 the only danger of intestinal prolapse with the 

 above operation is when the animal, carelessly 



