68 Animal Castbation 



then all that remains to be done is to sever the spermatic cord with 

 the ecraseur and allow the animal to rise to his feet. Oftentimes 

 the amount of traction which can safely be applied to the cord 

 will not suffice to bring the testicle out of the abdominal cavity. 

 The proper method of procedure in such a case is to perforate 

 the abdominal wall with the peritoneum perforator (Fig. 40) one 

 inch above and one inch forward of the internal abdominal ring. 

 With the index and second finger in the abdominal cavity return 

 the cord, and such other parts of it or the testicle as are in the 

 inguinal canal, to the abdominal cavity, after which the cord can 

 easily be brought through the abdominal perforation into the in- 

 guinal canal and there is no way for the testicle to fail to follow. 

 In other words, we make an intra-abdominal "ridgling" out of 

 the intra-inguinal "ridgling" and castrate him as described in 

 detail on pages 51-62. 



Supra Scrotal "Ridgling" — This is the variety where the testi- 

 cle and spermatic cord are in the inguinal canal, however, too 

 high up to be felt even on deep pressure ("High flanker"). This 

 class is the usual one encountered in young animals, and corre- 

 sponds t<> Miles' No. 2. 



Not being in possession of knowledge which would indicate to 

 us in advance that the testicle is not actually in the abdominal 

 cavity we are forced to proceed accordingly and prepare patient, 

 sterilize instruments, cast and tie, disinfect field of operation, 

 make scrotal incisions, invade scrotum and inguinal canal, the 

 same as we would for a "ridgling" of the intra-abdominal va- 

 riety. However, encountering the tunica vaginalis containing the 

 testicle high up in the inguinal canal — outside of abdominal cav- 

 ity — we are spared the effort and the animal the danger of per- 

 forating the abdominal wall. All that is necessaryy to be done is 

 to pass the hook knife up the canal, kniek the tunica vaginalis, 

 allow the testicle to escape, sever the cord with emasculator, and 

 allow the animal to rise to his feet. 



Secondary Operation — Oftentimes a previous attempt — by an 

 incompetent operator — has been made to remove an undescended 

 testicle. In such cases the scrotum and groin are filled with sear 

 tissue to the extent of complicating the entrance to inguinal canal 

 and abdominal cavity and otherwise making the operation diffi- 

 cult, unpleasant and unsatisfactory. In such cases the conva- 



