34 CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHID HORSES. 



The operator's hand is inserted and directed towards the pelvis, 

 where a search is made for the missing organ. When found 

 it is removed by the ecraseur and the wound carefully sutured, 

 the muscle and peritoneum separately with boiled silk and the 

 skin with silkworm- gut, or, better still, both the latter layers 

 with silkworm gut. This material, although it never becomes 

 absorbed, is non-absorbent, and so leaves less likelihood of 

 being the carrier of septic infection to the interior. The peri- 

 toneum may be sutured with the muscle, but the danger of 

 hernia is lessened if it is done separately with fine boiled silk.f 

 Interrupted sutures, about a quarter of an inch apart, are the - 

 best. The skin is then carefully dried and covered with iodo- 

 form and collodion (i-io), or orthoform and collodion (i-8). 



Prognosis and After-treatment.— .Given the use of chloroform 

 and strict attention to modern antiseptic principles, a most, 

 favourable, prognosis may be given. It is astonishing how little ' 

 swelling or disturbance (either local or constitutional) will ensue. 

 A glance at the reports given of cases and the papers read 

 on the subject will show that the proportion of deaths is very 

 small,^ especially if extraordinary abnormalities be left out of 

 consideration. 



The after-treatment consists in placing the patient in a clean 

 loose box, removing the sutures (if any have been inserted) 

 about the third day, opening the wound a little to allow free- 

 drainage, and afterwards keeping it clean with antiseptics. 

 The attendant should always wash his hands carefully before , 

 touching the parts. If there is no discharge the wound is 

 better to be left alone altogether. Exercise should be given 

 about half an hour or an hour night and morning, and the 

 diet should be' laxative. 



In animals which have been brought from grass immediately 

 before the operation the better plan is to turn them out again 

 as soon as possible ; in fact, if the testis is not in the abdomen 

 but only in the canal, they are better turned back to pasture 



1 "Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics," Vol. IV. (Donald); Idem 

 Vol. XI., and "Veterinary Record," Vol. XV., page 267 (Hobday); "Castration du. 

 Cheval Cryptorohid " (Cadiot). 



