258 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



ly treated. As soon as the hernial sac has been destroyed 

 by the incision of the scrotum and the ablation of the testi- 

 cle, the intestines rapidly gravitate downward until an enor- 

 mous amount protrude and if not supported immediately 

 they will soon trail to tfie ground to be trampled upon by 

 the feet. The situation is therefore always an urgent one. 

 There must be no delay, or treatment will be futile. The 

 first appearance of intestines at or through the incision in 

 the scrotum must be met by immediately preventing their 

 further prolapse. A twitch is placed on the nose, a sideline 

 applied to a hind leg and then a few stitches are sewed across 

 the incision close enough to safely assure against further pro- 

 trusion. These emergencies having been completed no 

 time is then lost in casting, anaesthetizing, and placing the 

 patient in the dorsal position. The region is then rinsed 

 with abundance of antiseptic solution and as soon as the 

 anaesthesia is profound the emergency stitches are removed 

 and attempt begun to replace the intestines. If filled with 

 gas they are punctured with a small trocar and canula and 

 if still irreducible kelotomy must be performed. Once re- 

 duced safely in the abdominal cavity the tunica vaginalis is 

 drawn up and ligated according to Van Law's method (see 

 page 360). Thorough rinsing of the cavity completes the 

 operation. 



Prolapsus of the Omentum is less serious but not en- 

 tirely without danger. It is generally safe to simply cut off 

 the protruding portion, at the level of the incision, with the 

 emasculator or ecraseur, but never with a sharp knife on 

 account of the large size of the vessels it contains. If left 

 alone its weight will drag down more and more, and finally 

 bring out loops of intestines. A patient treated by simple 

 ablation of the protruding portion must be carefully watched 

 for several hours in order that a possible prolapsus of the 

 intestines may be discovered early enough for successful 

 intervention. 



A much safer method of dealing with prolapsus of the 

 omentum is to place the patient in the recumbent position, 

 cut off the protruding end, replace the remainder and then 

 apply a clamp, upon the cord including the tunica vaginalis. 



Adhesion of the Testicles to the Tunica Vaginalis is a 

 condition that often complicates castration. It is one of 

 the banes of the standing operation, because the adhesions 

 are sometimes too firm to be broken down with the fingers 

 from the disadvantageous position the operator finds him- 

 self in, and the certain resistance the patient will offer. This 



