46 ANIMAL CASTRATION. 



ment to divide only tlie scrotal skin and tlie dartos, 

 until the most superficial layers of the cellular tissue 

 of the third testicular envelope are reached. The 

 skin and the dartos being divided, the edges of the 

 wound separate, and the testicle, still pressed down- 

 wards and outwards with the left hand, protrudes 

 more or less, still included, as it is, within its fibrous 

 covering. A careful dissection, with a few light 

 strokes of the bistoury, or laceration with the thumb 

 nail of the hand, now sufiices for the separation of 

 the fibrous envelope from its external covering, an 

 entire separation of both of which can thus be easily 

 obtained by pressing the most external layer up- 

 wards through the laceration of the cellular coat 

 which unites them. 



Third step. — The operator now relieves himself of 

 his instrument — not, we may venture to suggest, by 

 placing it between his teeth, as some careless sur- 

 geons are a|)t to do, but by handing it to an assistant 

 — and, changing his position, places himself in front 

 of the inguinal region, and facing it. He then pro- 

 ceeds to the enucleation of the testicle, by separat- 

 ing the adhesion which exists between the internal 

 face of the dartos and the external surface of the 

 cremaster muscle and of the fibrous tunic. The 

 separation being completed, and the scrotum and 

 dartos being carefully pushed upwards, the patient 

 is now ready for the last step of the operation. 



Fourth step. — The testicle, well enucleated from its 

 superficial envelopes, but still covered by the fibrous 

 coat, and the vaginal sac still remaining intact, thg 



