CASTRATION OF THE MULE 



41 



tablespooiiful (o the quart of water. Witli the left hand {M) -rasp the 

 sheatli (N) and witli forwanl and upward traction stretch tlu' sci-otum 

 until it is taut. AVith a knife (q) in the i-i-ht hand (K) uuil^e the two 

 scrotal incisions (0, P) beo-iuniug well forward (0) and extending- hack- 

 ward (P) three to four Indies. These incisions should he tJiree-fourths 

 inch from and parallel to the raphe or median line (S). Release the hold 

 on the sheatli and grasp each testicle in turn and witii a nick of the 

 knife open tlie tunica vaginalis and allow the testicles to escape. 



Fig. ao — Proper position of the emasculator, D, and relation of testicle, G, sper- 

 matic cord, F, tunica vaginalis, E, and scrotum. A B, in mule castration. 



After the testicles are released from the tunica vaginalis one of them 

 is grasped with the left hand (T) ( P'ig. 29) and drawn upward at right 

 angles to the body of the animal by making from one to two pounds 

 traction on the cord. "With the right hand (Y) apply the emasculator 

 (Z) to the cord and force the instrument downward against the scrotum 

 (X) in such a manner as to sever the spermatic cord and all of its cover- 

 ings as close to the skin incision as possible. See to it that not less than 

 one inch of the tunica vaginalis is cut off in order to avoid that all too 

 frequent sequel of mule castration, viz.: liydrocele ("water bag" or 

 "water seed"), a condition invariably produced by severing the cord 



