162 ANIMAL CASTRATION. 



leg carried backwards, in order to expose the flank 

 of tlie side selected for tlie incision. The first step of 

 the operation consists in plucking the feathers from 

 a sufiicient extent of surface, and making an incision 

 a little behind the lateral internal processes of the 

 sternum, from within outwards, and from before 

 backwards, and slightly oblique, through the skin 

 and the thin muscles of the abdomen, and when 

 reaching the peritoneum carefully opening it with a 

 puncture, having it raised with a pair of forceps. 

 The second step, or that which involves the extirpa- 

 tion of the gland, is performed by the introduction 

 of the index finger of the right hand into the abdo- 

 men, passing it above the intestinal mass and turn- 

 ing towards the dorsal region near the articulation 

 of the last two ribs, where the testicles are felt, 

 prominent at the sub-lumbar region. Then, with 

 the fingers half flexed, the adhesions of the organ are 

 broken ofi^, and the organ, held in the bend of the 

 finger, is brought outside. The second testicle is 

 removed by the same process. If the testicles should 

 slip from the grasp of the finger, the accident is of 

 little account, as they will graft themselves upon the 

 walls of the abdomen, and in time disappear by 

 resolution. The operation is concluded by the 

 closing of the wound by stitches of interrupted 

 suture, and the healing usually takes place by first 

 intention. 



The operation is performed in the hen in the same 

 manner as with the male bird, the ovaries being 

 found in the lumbar region, from which they are re- 



