A TREATISE ON INGUINAL HERNI.^:. 
419 
Providing there be no sarcocele, and the hernia be of the reducible kind, 
the operation will be free from all diffieulty. The animal being cast and 
turned upon his back, the operator will seize the testicle with bis left hand, 
and draw it out as much as possible, while with the right he is pushing the 
hernial viscus back through the ring, taking care to make his compression 
on the sides Xhe iumom: should there appear any unusual obstacle, he 
may, by giving the testicle to an assistant, employ both hands in the mani¬ 
pulation. The elevation of the croup, by taking off the gravitation of the 
contained viscera from the ring, proves the most favourable position; indeed, 
this is often sufficient of itself for the return of the protruded parts. Also, in 
some cases, it will be found of advantage to draw out the scrotum, M'hich, 
by compression, is forcing the hernial swelling against the ring. We must 
avoid, if possible, the practice of drawing the gut in with the hand in the 
rectum: it is dangerous, and may aggravate the malady. 
The bubonocele reduced, the operator proceeds to castration, 
a testicule coicvert. The only special precautions which M. Girard 
thinks requisite in the present case, are—that in cutting through 
the scrotum and dartos, the hernial sac be not opened ; at the 
same time, that the separation of the sac from the dartos be as 
complete as possible, to give the utmost effect to the clams, which 
should be fixed close to the ring. Before the clams be closed, be 
sure that no skin, and, above all, intestine, be included within 
their gripe ; for the latter did happen in one case to an experienced 
operator (M. Roupp), an5 gave rise to violent colics, which were 
relieved only by casting the animal a second time, and removing 
and placing afresh the clams. 
Sometimes the protruded gut, distended by an accumulation of contained 
matters, becomes strictured and strangulated, either by the ring or the 
neck of its sac, thereby rendering its return impracticable. In this case, 
we must have recourse to the operation for strangulated hernia^ which will 
be described hereafter. Thickening of the membranes will render the dissec¬ 
tion of the dartos from the sac tedious or difficult; and it may exist to such 
a degree (in one case they were found an inch in thickness) as to compel 
one to substitute a strong waxed ligature for the clams, for the compression 
of the chord, which should be fastened by a running knot. 
In the case of sarcocele, the operator must be guided by circumstances. 
Should the tumour consist principally of intestine, the operation is to be 
conducted as in the case of thickened membranes. Sarcocele may render 
the tumour so firm and compact as to deprive it of every sign or feel of con¬ 
taining intestine; and if the operator neglect to explore the ring, this 
may lead him into fatal error, should he determine on the removal of the 
sarcocele. Whenever, therefore, in such a case intestine is discovered, he 
must make himself certain about its return before he offers to apply clams 
or ligature to the tumour of the sarcocele. 
Our author next tells us, that adhesions between the hernial 
part and its sac are so rare, that he has met with but two exam¬ 
ples of the kind, and one of these occurred in a lamb. A com¬ 
munication with which we have been recently favoured by Mr. C. 
Percivall, appears to prove that adhesions between the testicle and 
its vaginal covering are by no means uncommon in India, although 
