CASTRATION OF THE CRYPTORCH1D. 
509 
having the epididymis in the canal. The diagnosis is much 
easier after evacuation of the bowel. 
For eight to fourteen days preceding the operation volu¬ 
minous feeding is to be avoided ; in fat subjects, regular exer¬ 
cise, with a purge now and then ; in all cases clysters are to be 
injected a few hours previous to casting. The less the amount 
of subcutaneous fat, the easier the operation and the sooner 
the convalescence. The animal to be operated upon is thrown 
so that the side to be incised is uppermost. During the ad¬ 
ministration of anaesthetics, the posterior uppermost limb is 
removed from the hobble and is to be bound as for an ordinary 
castration. A sack of straw is placed under the gluteal region 
so that the rear is higher than the anterior extremity, and so 
that the patient lies somewhat up on the back. 
The limbs are now moistened, for the purpose of prevent¬ 
ing dirt, etc., which may be upon them from falling into the 
. wound during the operation; for the same reason a damp 
cloth is spread around the hoof displaced from the hobble. 
The inguinal and hypogastric regions are well washed with 
soap, and subsequently rinsed with a one per cent, corrosive 
sublimate solution. When one has the time the sheath, some 
time previous to the operation, should be thoroughly washed. 
After these prophylactic measures the following processes 
should occur, in the order detailed. 
i. The incision ; with the arms exposed to the elbows, and 
the same, together with the hands and instruments, carefully 
disinfected, the operator kneels as though about to perform 
the commoner operation. The external ring is now felt by 
palpation and an incision is made two inches in length made 
directly upon it and extending from the anterior to the poster¬ 
ior commissure. I prefer, with Bang, this spot, which enables 
one to enter the abdomen via the shortest way ; some of the 
Belgian and Denmark operators incise the dartose and 
scrotum, and consequently are constrained to dissect back the 
tissues until the ring is reached. 
The incision being upon the ring and through the skin, a 
large vein (post abdominal) is exposed ; which if at all embar¬ 
rassing should be doubly ligatured and cut through. 
