24 ANIMxVl CASTRATION. 



manipulations, and the operation was from this 

 cause known as free torsion, until about fifty years 

 ago, when instruments were introduced into general 

 practice, and gave rise to the plan of I'uidted torsion. 



FEEE TOKSION. 



Free torsion, or that in which the hands alone are 

 employed in the operation, may be performed, as 

 before stated, either above or below the epididymis. 



Above the JUpidiJifiiiifi. — The first is one of the oldest 

 modes of castration known ; one ■which must have 

 been practiced contemporaneously with the use of 

 clamps, or in the first age of surgery. The first steps 

 of the operation required for the exposure of the 

 testicles are the same as have already been detailed. 

 When this is accomplished the steps of torsion and 

 rupture are then performed in the following manner : 

 The operator, grasping the testicle, carefully draws 

 out the spermatic cord, and with a pointed bistoury 

 makes a transverse incision, above the tail of the 

 epididj'mis, through the iiosterior septum of the 

 cord, involving what wo know as the Avhite muscle of 

 Bouley, the efferent caual, and the small testicular 

 artery. He then seizes the anterior fasciculus of the 

 cord between the thumb and index finger of the left 

 hand, squeezing it as tightly as ])()ssible, and having 

 with the oth'T hand seeurod the cord at a short dis- 

 tance below the point where the left hand has already 

 been placed, ]>erforms tlu; torsion liy a rotatory 

 movement given to the ti'stide itself, the motion, 

 having for its result the twisting and tearing of the 



