CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID BOARS 127 



and retain it in position by means of sutures for a period of 

 24 to 48 hours when it is removed and the wound dressed 

 antiseptically. 



36. CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID BOARS 



Instruments. Razor, convex scalpel, emasculator, artery 

 forceps, suture material. 



Purpose. The retention of a testicle by adult boars taints 

 the flesh extremely and renders it unfit for human food. 

 In some states the law regards as a misdemeanor the sale of 

 boar's flesh. The boar must, therefore, be castrated, 

 whether normal or cryptorchid, and kept for a considerable 

 period thereafter before his flesh becomes fit for food. 



The animal is to be secured in lateral recumbency on the 

 normal side, the posterior parts being elevated. The hair 

 is clipped or shaved in the upper flank region and the area 

 washed and disinfected. A flank incision is then to be 

 made as described on page 113 for spaying the bitch. The 

 incision should ordinarily suflBce for passing two fingers into 

 the abdominal cavity. If the operation has been too long 

 deferred and the animal is large and fat, the operator, es- 

 pecially with short fingers, may be unable to reach sufi&- 

 ciently into the abdominal cavity, in which case the incision 

 needs to be extended to admit the hand. 



With the fingers (or the hand) passed into the peritoneal 

 cavity, the testicle is to be located upon the same principles 

 as laid down for cryptorchid horses ; the testicle is attached 

 to the posterior commissure of the internal inguinal ring by 

 the gubernaculum, and to the seminal bladder, just above 

 the neck of the urinary bladder, by the vas deferens. The 

 gland itself may be anywhere, its size, form, and consistency 

 so modified as to be unrecognizable, or the gland may be 

 hidden amongst adherent viscera but the gubernaculum and 

 vas deferens still constitute the reliable means for identifica- 

 tion. 



