INFLAMMATION OF THE SPERMATIC CORD. 
419 
or violently tearing away the testicle ruptures the peritoneal folds which 
support the cord within the abdomen and allows the cord to protrude 
below the wound. Exposed to the air the cord swells, and sometimes 
becomes strangulated in the narrow skin incision and in the processus 
vaginalis. The portion lying beyond the castration wound then begins to 
proliferate, and a condition results which has been described as “ Cham¬ 
pignon,” and which often leads to scirrhous cord (fig. 175). In other cases 
the infected cord is returned to the tunica vaginalis, but in consequence 
of the presence of micro-organisms, becomes inflamed, and swollen. 
Fig. 175. — ‘‘Champignon” formation in the horse, a, Thickened spermatic cord; 
b, processus vaginalis ; c, thickening external to processus vaginalis. 
Unless strict asepsis be observed, which is almost impossible, scirrhous 
cord may result, and for this it appears unjust to hold the castrator 
alone answerable. 
(2) All influences favouring pus formation and inflammation in the 
operation wound favour development of scirrhous cord. These comprise, 
too small an incision, or an incision too far to one side of the scrotum, 
both of which conditions impede drainage; too small a wound also favours 
strangulation of the cord and formation of “Champignon,” as shown by 
Trianon’s experiments. Castration by ligature is doubly dangerous if 
performed with unsterilised materials. The ligature often remains in 
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