306 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



gives the inguinal region a physiognomy simulating scir- 

 rhous cord, but which in reality is but the reflection of a 

 transient morbid process. One, two and sometimes three 

 months after the operation the region of the scrotum ap- 

 pears to be in bad condition. The incisions, instead of 

 healing, continue to discharge a limited amount of pus and 

 the cords on palpation are found hard, enlarged and some- 

 what painful. Notwithstanding that such a condition is 

 often the precursor of a real scirrhous cord, it is always ad- 

 visable to postpone operative intervention until its chron- 

 icity is positively established by the lapse of considerable 

 time or by ample evidence that the growth is increasing 

 instead of diminishing in size. A tumefied cord that con- 

 tinues to enlarge after six weeks, or one that continues to 

 sojourn at the end of four months, may safely be pro- 

 nounced chronic, and hence is a fit subject for ablation, 

 while on the other hand, one that is only of three, four or 

 five weeks' standing and that shows a decided inclination to 

 cicatrize into a smaller and smaller object from time to 

 time may be prudently treated expectantly for several 

 months, in hopes that operative treatment may eventually 

 prove unnecessary. It is true that ablation will more 

 promptly dispatch these recent cases then the expectant 

 treatment ever does, yet the wisdom of submitting the pa- 

 tient to a second operation that is fraught with consider- 

 able danger, can always be questioned in view of the ex- 

 cellent recoveries that often occur without operation. 



There is, however, no excuse for indecision when the 

 chronicity is well established, nor in any of the scirrhous 

 cords found many months or years after castration. Here, 

 ablation should be practiced without delay, to prevent the 

 diseased cord from growing to a size that would render the 

 operation more and more hazardous. 



When the growth is enormous, or when large and bi- 

 lateral, especially if the patient's health is bad from the con- 

 stant drain from the disease or from overwork, the opera- 

 tion is exceptionally dangerous. Fatalities are common. 

 In such cases it is always advisable to postpone the opera- 

 tion until the vigor can be restored by rest, healthful exer- 

 cise, tonics and good feeding. In view of the high mor- 

 tality the wisdom of undertaking the ablation of enormous 

 scirrhous cords in more or less emaciated subjects is in- 

 deed doubtful. Although the worthlessness of the patient 

 may be admitted, there will be little credit gained in per- 

 forming a difficult operation whose mortality is so high as 



