CASTRATION OF THE HORSE 47 



erably incised with the hoolied blade castrating- knife. 

 As soon as the small incision is made into and thi-ough 

 the vaginal tunics, some portion of the testicle may 

 be squeezed out through the opening, and amputation 

 of the gland is then readily accomplished. The small 

 opening thus made into the vaginal tunics is easily 

 enlarged after the testicle has been amputated, which 

 is necessary. 



After-Care. — These cases require no more after-care 

 than is given to the "straight" colt at the time of 

 castration, and the type calls for no special consider- 

 ation except for the purpose of classifying them as a 

 distinct and separate class of cryptorchids. In these 

 cases the testicle has descended into the canal, the 

 processus vaginalis has been pushed downward and 

 the vaginal tunics formed in such manner as to make 

 them differ from the true abdominal ridgeling. In 

 such abnoT'mal cases of course, no scrotal pouch has 

 formed, but in most instances the testicle is readily 

 felt by palpation of the inguinal region. There are 

 occasional cases, however, where it is impossible to 

 locate the testicle in this manner. 



Hernise 



To be considered under this heading are herniaj, in- 

 guinal and scrotal, of foals — a condition due to a loose 

 and lax state of the inner abdominal ring permitting 

 the descent into the inguinal canal of a loop of intes- 

 tine, which niay descend as far as the scrotum. In the 

 typical case of inguinal and scrotal hernise as seen in 

 foals the loop of intestine is confined within the tunica 

 vaginalis communis and on the outside of the tunica 

 vaginalis propria. Strictly speaking, it is a condition 

 wherein the loop of intestine has taken its way along- 



