CASTRATION— ORCHECTOMY 277 



wound open, and a special, spoon-like hook for removing the 

 testicles. 



The technic of the operation is as follows: The feathers 

 are plucked from the field of operation, which is between the 

 last two ribs extending from the cartilage of prolongation of 

 the ribs to a point about one-half to one and a half inches from 

 the back. The skin over this region should be disinfected, 

 best by painting with tincture of iodin. The incision is then 

 made through the abdominal wall observing the following 

 points : 



The skin should be pulled to one side before the incision is 

 made, so that following the operation, the skin and deeper 

 wounds will not cover one another. 



The incision should follow closely the border of the last 

 rib in order to avoid cutting the intercostal artery. Care 

 must be taken to avoid injuring the cartilages of prolongation 

 of the last ribs. Should they be cut, which is easily done, the 

 healing of the wound will be delayed. Further, the incision 

 through the walls should be made carefully to avoid punctur- 

 ing the lungs. 



After the retractors are placed in position, and the incision 

 dilated, the testicles are located just anterior to the kidney. 

 The upper one will be found without difficulty; the lower one 

 is brought into view by separating the mesentery with the 

 handle of the scalpel or other blunt instrument immediately 

 below the upper testicle. Remove the lower testicle first. 

 The spoon-hook or scoop is applied around the testicle by 

 being slipped over the spermatic cord. Care should be taken 

 to prevent injury to the large bloodvessels. The testicle is 

 removed by torsion. A few turns of the instrument will sever 

 the testicle from its attachments when it can be lifted out. 

 The other testicle is then removed in a similar manner. The 

 entire testicle should be removed, for if a portion is left in the 

 fowl will develop into what is commonly known as a " slip" 

 and the object of the operation defeated. After the spreaders 

 or retractors are removed the ribs will assume their normal 

 position closing the incision. No further treatment of the 

 wound is neeessarv; it closes without difficultv in a week or 



