96 SPRING-TIME SURGERY 



rendered aseptic and the ends of it should be left 

 long enough to hang slightly out of the scrotal 

 wound. Cut off the cord with its covering mem- 

 brane just back of the ligation. It is a serious 

 mistake to incise the tunica vaginalis before the 

 cord is ligated. Remove the other testicle and 

 the operation is complete. 



The peritoneal surfaces of the tunica vagin- 

 alis will adhere in a few hours and in two or 

 three days the portion of the tunic below the 

 ligation will slough off and come away together 

 with the string with which it is tied. It is necces- 

 sary to make the wound rather low so that drain- 

 age may be free. The entire operation requires 

 less than one-half the time it takes to describe it 

 and the mortality is practically nil. 



It may be beneath the dignity of some veteri- 

 narians to charge a fee for this operation but the 

 operation is not too insignificant to be appre- 

 ciated by the owner and it is well worth while 

 viewed from any angle. If undertaken at all 

 of course it should be well done. 



