Cryptorchidectomy 267 



the preparatory steps are being executed, and only re- 

 moved therefrom when required to ablate the testicle, has 

 never in the author's experience infected the seat of ablation. 

 The knife being used only to perform a very small part of 

 the operation is a much less important infection carrier. If 

 kept reasonably clean, and if the blade is placed in phenol 

 for a few minutes, there will be little danger from this source. 

 The hands, on the contrary, are of capital importance. Con- 

 taminated with dirt while tying the patient, they must in a 

 few minutes be passed into the peritoneal cavity. The best 

 system of dealing with the whole matter of antisepsis for 

 ridgling castration is as follows : 



ist. Submit the hands to a good washing with soap and 

 water, after cleaning and trimming the nails, then rinse them 

 for a few minutes in a solution of mercuric chloride 1-500. 



2nd. Place the emasculator in a basin containing a solu- 

 tion of mercuric chloride 1-300, and the knife blade in phenol. 



3rd. Wear gloves while casting, tying and placing the 

 patient in proper position. , 



4th. Remove the gloves and rinse the hands in the mer- 

 curic chloride solution, just before the operation proper be- 

 gins, and thereafter do not touch any septic objects. 



5th. Wash the region well with soap and water and then 

 with mercuric chloride, and moisten the thighs, buttocks, 

 and abdomen to prevent hairs from flying. 



6th. Do not allow the fingers to touch the dirty rugae 

 of the sheath while making the incision. ' 



7th. Rinse. the hand after the incision is made, just before 

 passing it upward through the inguinal canal. 



8th. When the testicle has been found,- take the emas- 

 culator directly from the basin to effect the ablation. 



While this routine does not constitute absolute asepsis, 

 it takes advantage of all reasonable precautions without 

 delaying any part of the procedure. 



It has been observed that certain of the old ridgling cas- 

 trators entirely ignored cleanliness in their operations and 

 yet were very successful, in fact more so than the practi- 

 tioners who make strong pretenses toward the observance 

 of antiseptic technique. An explanation of these results, 

 which at first might seem to reverse the teachings of asep- 

 tic surgery, is easily found by observation to be due to the 

 greater skill of the former and the misconception of the 

 latter as to what actually constitutes effectual antisepsis. 



First Step. — Oscheotomy. — The incision of the scrotum 

 is made about four to five inches long, according to the' size 



