184 The Diseases of Animals 
and to give free drainage. There are several layers 
to cut through; when the inner one is cut usually a 
little fluid (serum) spurts out. The cord should he 
severed at least four inches from the testicle, to pre- 
vent the cord from healing fast in the wound in the 
scrotum and forming a tumor,—commonly called a 
“schirrous cord” or “champignon,”— that may attain a 
large size. The only treatment for such tumor is to 
remove it the same as a testicle, by surgical means. 
There are many ways of severing the cord: 
1. By using an ecraseur or an emasculator, instru- 
ments designed to crush blood-vessels and prevent 
hemorrhage. Both of these instruments are very satis- 
factory. 
2. By tying the cord with a small, strong string, 
and cutting off the testicle with a knife close to the 
string. 
3. By torsion or twisting. A clamp is put on the 
cord and firmly held, a pair of forceps placed on the 
cord between the clamp and testicle, about an inch 
apart, the forceps turned in one direction until the 
cord is twisted off. The objection to this method is 
that it is slow. 
4. Searing the cord with a hot iron. A clamp is 
firmly fastened on the cord. The testicle is then severed 
with a knife and the end of the cord seared with a 
hot iron. The objection to this is the pain to the 
animal, and the time required. 
The old method of placing wooden clamps on the 
cord is now discarded by good surgeons, except for 
the “eovered operation” when there is scrotal hernia. 
