26 CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. 



is prepared for all eventualities, and if the opei'ation is difficult 

 and the search prolonged he is not persistently flut'ried. or 

 annoyed by violent and frantic struggling. 



Instruments Required; Preparation for Operation.-- 

 The instruments required are a sharp scalpel, a pair of dressing 

 forceps, two or three pairs of Spencef Wells' artery, forceps, a 

 director, needle and silkworm gut or stout silk, and an ecraseur^ 

 or emasculator. The "latter is for the removal of the testicle, 

 although, if preferred, and the length of the spermatic cord will 

 permit it, this can be taken off by ligature, torsion or the 

 clam and iron. The ^craseur is, however, the most useful for 

 all emergencies. 



, All instruments must be surgically clean, and to effect this 

 should be sterilised by boiling immediately before use, or by 



Fig. 6. 

 Ecraseur (Farmer Miles' pattern). 



placing for some time in a reliable antiseptic solution, and the 

 operator should take care not to contaminate them during use. 

 Cotton wool, too, which is so much better than sponges for 

 cleansing the wound, should previously be rendered sterile in 

 the same way. If preferred, dry antiseptic or sterilised wadding 

 or gauze may be used for swabbing up the blood. 



The site of incision and surrounding parts should have 

 all hair removed by scissors and_ razor, if necessary, then be 

 thoroughly soaked and scrubbed with soap and hot water 

 containing some antiseptic (such as creolin, carbolic acid, or 

 chinosol), and carefully rinsed afid scrubbed again with ether 

 or ether soap and fresh solution of antiseptic. If possible 

 an assistant should first do the dirtier parts. After this it 



1 It is always wise to be provided with two chains in case of aecideht. 



