CASTRATION OP CRYPTORCHID HORSES 121 



35. CASTRATION, OF (CRYPTORCHID HOUSES 

 ;: '1 .1 pgs.47, 48 



Instruments. ScalpeJ, emasculator. 

 . Technic. Prior to attempting the operation, it is well 

 to make a rectal exploration and determine as far as may 

 be, the location of the testicle, whether it be on the right 

 ox left side, and its character, should it be in any way 

 pathologic. Confine the animal by casting in the dorsal 

 position with the hocks well flexed and both posterior 

 limbs completely abducted so as to fully expose the inguinal 

 region. Or secure upon the operating table on the side 

 opposite to the retained gland and abduct the upper poste- 

 rior limb by drawing it upward by means of a pulley. 

 Cleanse and disinfect the inguinal region. Anaesthetize. 

 Make an incision about lo to 12 cm. long through the skin. 

 and dartos directly over the normal position of the scrotum, 

 parallel to the median raphe and about 4 or 5 cm. distant from 

 it. Insert the two index fingers in the wound, press them 

 into the areolar tissue toward the external inguinal ring 

 and drawing them apart, separate the tissues sufiBciently to 

 permit the entrance of the hand into the inguinal space. 

 With the fingers held in the shape of a cone, bore a passage 

 in the areolar tissue through the external abdominal ring 

 and continue in a direction approximately toward the ex- 

 ternal angle of the ilium until the aponeurosis of the small 

 oblique muscle near the crural arch is reached. Unless 

 rectal exploration has shown that the testicle is within the 

 abdomen, take care in traversing the inguinal space between, 

 the external and internal rings that the gland is not passed 

 by unrecognized (inguinal cryptorchidy), lying in this re- 

 gion covered by peritoneum and the cremasteric fascia. 

 Sometimes the epididymis has descended to the scrotal re- 

 gion while tbe testicle remains, within the abdomen,. thus 

 resulting in a narrow inguinal canal, containing the epi- 

 didymis only;, . .1 



