PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT BEFORE OPERATION. 19 



testicles. They were quite out of sight even when the patient 

 was cast and secured on its back. 



Fertility, however, depends upon many things, including the 

 number and state of maturity of the spermatozoa ; the actual 

 presence, therefore, of a few specimens in the semen removed 

 from a testicle does not necessarily imply power to propagate 

 species. 



Preparation of- the Patient before Operation.— The dis- 

 advantage of an engorged condition of the digestive organs is 

 too obvious to need much comment, and for any operation 

 involving exploration of the abdominal contents the advantage 

 of a few hours' fast cannot be too strongly insisted upon. In 

 fact, cases have been recorded where operators have failed to 

 discover the retained testicle in a patient which has not been 

 fasted, whereas a few weeks afterwards the horse has again 

 been cast after being starved for twenty-four hours, and the 

 testis has been discovered without difficulty. 



No food should be allowed for about twenty-four hours before 

 the time of operating, and water should only be given in 

 limited quantity. Even this should not be given within five or 

 six hours previously. Care must be taken that the bedding is 

 not eaten, the animal being tied up short or made to wear a 

 muzzle. 



As to the advisability or otherwise of the previous adminis- 

 tration of a dose of physic, opinions differ a little. Personally 

 I do not consider it necessary except in special circumstances, 

 as a laxative diet prescribed for a few days before and 

 after the operation is quite sufficient and the patient is not 

 nauseated. It seems theoretically, and practical experience 

 has borne it out, that it is" better to operate upon a patient in 

 good spirits and in good health rather than one whose system 

 has been depressed and depleted by a strong purgative. In 

 any case, if a laxative is used, a mild dose of magnesium 

 sulphate or oil is preferable to any drug such as aloes, which 

 causes nausea and depression. An enema an hour beforehand 

 is sometimes a useful adjunct, although in restive colts which 



