OPERATIVE SURGERY. 291 



hardly appearing to notice the absence of their male appendages, 

 while others prefer to let the lambs run until three or four 

 months of age, or even longer, claiming that the carcass is in- 

 creased in size, and the animals grow stronger and thrive better 

 by the delay. However it is a mere matter of choice on the 

 part of the owner as to what age to operate. All that is neces- 

 sary is to perform the operation properly and in seasonable 

 weather. 



Co Operate. 



Set the lamb on its rump, and make a careful digital exam- 

 ination of the scrotal sac to be sure that hernia is not present. 

 If the parts are in the normal condition, with the fingers and 

 thumb of the left hand draw up the lower end of the scrotum 

 (bag) and make a clean cut right across the end, severing it en- 

 tirely. This is far preferable to slitting the sac, as such a wound 

 is liable to heal prematurely and be the cause of serious trouble; 

 whereas if ^ the end of the sac is entirely removed the aperture 

 will be forced to close gradually, thereby insuring good drain- 

 age, which is very essential for the ultimate success of this oper- 

 ation. After removing the end of the sac, grasp the upper end 

 of the scrotum, forcing the testicles covered by their investing 

 tunics to project from the opening, with the scalpel or knife 

 now cut a longitudinal incision across each testicle, severing the 

 tunics but not necessarily cutting the testicles; then take the 

 testicles one at a time and draw downwards gradually, twisting 

 the cord and scraping it with the knife, until it finally becomes 

 severed. If this is properly performed and the cord slowly 

 drawn out until it resembles a fine string, there will be little if 

 any bleeding; whereas if the cord is directly cut across there 

 is danger of excessive bleeding from the severed sper- 

 matic artery. The after-treatment, should the operation have 

 been performed in fly-season, consists in dressing the parts with 

 a carbolic salve to prevent the wound becoming maggoty. If 



