CASTRATION OP THE HORSP] 45 



pletc anesthesia. Tlir region of the upper Hank is 

 cleansed, shaved and painted with tincture of iodin. 

 An incision through the skin and fascia is made just 

 anterior to the external angle of the ilium, sufficiently 

 large to admit the hand. The muscular structures 

 and peritoneum are perforated by blunt dissection as 

 in cattle-spaying and the testicle likewise is similarly 

 sought. The testicle is brought to the surface of the 

 abdominal wound if possible or if this is not possible 

 ablation of the abnormal structure may be effected 

 within the cavity of the abdomen. The skin and fas- 

 cial incision is closed with a continuous suture of silk, 

 the wound sealed and no after-care is necessary ex- 

 cept to remove the sutures in about a week. Where 

 strict asepsis is observed there is little danger of bad 

 result from this operation. 



After ablation of the testicle has been effected by 

 the inguinal route, the cavity may be packed with 

 sterile gauze which is left in position for twenty-four 

 hours and then removed. However, in the majority 

 of cases no packing of any sort is necessary, and ani- 

 mals are exercised regularly as though they had been 

 normal subjects castrated in the usual manner. 



Where both testicles are retained within the abdom- 

 inal cavity, the animal is kept in recumbency, turned 

 over and the operation is repeated, both testicles being 

 removed before the animal is allowed to rise. 



After-Care 



After-care in delicate animals consists in keeping 

 them in clean quarters and giving them regular exer- 

 cise, thus favoring the escape of all wound secretions 

 and minimizing dangers of contamination by pent up 

 discharges with subsequent troublesome infections. 



