254 
TRIANON. 
That the difficulties can be produced independent of caustic 
clams, actual cautery, and ligature, can be seen by a tabulated 
list of experiments that I made with the ecrasseur on twelve colts 
during the summer of 1886. When I began these experiments I 
expected to produce nothing but scirrluis cords, but the result 
was fistula and abscess of the scrotum in some of the cases, al¬ 
though scirrluis cord predominated ; and each cord had an ab¬ 
scess cavity, either in its center or near its posterior part. I 
would also state here that in all scirrhus cords that I have had occa¬ 
sion to remove, the results of work done by myself or other men, 
in each and every case I have found a pus cavity. 
While dissecting a scirrhus cord of recent origin, in June, 
1885, one in which the membranes of the vaginal sac were dis- 
cernable, I discovered that the trouble was caused by a foreign 
body, such as blood pus, etc., being retained in a sac at the pos¬ 
terior part of the cord, the sac being formed by an inversion pos 
teriorily (from the action of the cremaster muscle) of all that 
portion cf the tunica vaginalis reflexa remaining uncut anterior 
to the fold band or septum, that is formed by the two serous cov¬ 
erings, in their connection with the tail of the epididymis ; said 
inversion being favored by the breaking down of the cellular tis¬ 
sue connecting the tunica vaginalis reflexa to the infundibuliform 
fascia; the foreign body contained in this sac sets up an irritation 
which converts the serous membrane into one of a pyorganic 
nature. 
It is a well authenticated fact that the best results in castrat¬ 
ing the horse are obtained by dexterously making a large incis¬ 
ion ; but why the best results are thus obtained, has to this day 
remained empirical. 
In conclusion, I would say : in order to prevent the difficul¬ 
ties, a large incision should be made not only through the scrotal 
tunics, but also through the serous envelope, or preferably in¬ 
clude the latter with the cord in the ecrasseur, and amputate the 
whole above its connection with the tail of the epididymus, which 
obviates the receptacle for blood pus, etc., and insures perfect 
drainage. 
Being thus prompted by my discovery,!determined to experi- 
