74 SPRING-TIME SURGERY 



The following is about the routine which I 

 have employed and, I may say considering the 

 number it has been my lot to operate upon dur- 

 ing the past few years, and the results attained, 

 it seems to be a practical method. 



I first apply a twitch to the nose, lightly, and 

 make an inguinal examination with the animal 

 in the standing position. In some horses in good 

 condition, particularly those over two years old, 

 the superficial inguinal lymphatic glands may 

 deceive one, especially in nervous or ticklish ani- 

 mals, in which squeezing these glands may cause 

 them to flinch, much as would pressure upon the 

 testicle itself. The importance of this prelimi- 

 nary step is considerable in some cases, as many 

 owners of ridglings are not willing to assume the 

 risk incidental to the operation, and the veteri- 

 narian's sense of touch is called upon to decide 

 whether the horse is an abdominal ridgling or 

 merely a "high flanker. ' In exceptional cases it 

 may be necessary to caste the animal to make a 

 correct diagnosis, but in horses thin in flesh it is 

 an easy matter to determine whether they are 

 ridglings. 



