88 ■ " ANIMAL CASTEATIOIN. 



opening tne index and medium fingers are intro- 

 duced into the abdomen to explore the surrounding 

 parts, where the testicle, epididymis or cord may be 

 immediately found. Feeling backwards, the depres- 

 sion is detected which exists on the level of the 

 superior inguinal ring and also the serous band 

 which from there goes to the siTspeusory ligament of 

 the testicle, and which at its inferior border is 

 reinforced by the gubernaculum cistis. If after a 

 few moments of exploration nothing is discovered, 

 an assistant is called to introduce liis hand in the 

 rectum, as far as the prepubic region, to assist in the 

 exploration by pushing towards the wound the 

 organs that he successively feels. When the animal 

 has been ])repared by long diet, it is rare if by this 

 manipulation the result is not reached and the 

 testicle, epididymis or cord discovered. It will be 

 better to take hold of the epididymis, bring it 

 towards the incision and by careful i)ulling draw the 

 testicle. lu cases where digital exploration is insuf- 

 ficieut, the animal being chloroformed, the opening 

 can be enlarged in the direction of the hip and of 

 the muscular fibres, where the whole hand can be 

 introduced ill the abdomen; thus made, the wound 

 will be Cjuite extensive in length, but if the first 

 directions have been followed, there is but little 

 danger of protrusion of the intestine. Sometimes 

 the hand has to displace the organs that come in the 

 way and must here and there feel the intestinal 

 mass, amoijg the circumvolutions ^liere the testicle 

 may be held back. Another way to reach the gland 



