620 
TAIT BUTLER. 
desired end, healing by first intention, is to be obtained, this is 
essential. However, in veterinary practice wounds can sel¬ 
dom be got to heal by first intention, owing to the difficulty 
in keeping the injured parts sufficiently quiet. Therefore -it 
seems to me that, although this method is strictly correct from 
a theoretical standpoint, it is not calculated to give good re¬ 
sults in general practice. Yet, Frick says that he obtained 
primary union on both sides in seven out of twelve cases, and 
that out of the twenty-four wounds sixteen, or two-thirds, 
healed by first intention. Moreover, Bayer reports that in 
fifteen cases of antiseptic castration, ten out of the thirty 
wounds healed by first intention ; but even that is undoubtedly 
a higher per centage of primary unions than could be obtained 
under the conditions of environment met with by the general 
practitioner in this country. Although, as before stated, I 
have had no experience with this method of operating, I be¬ 
lieve it very likely to be followed by abscess of the scrotum 
and champignon. 
Castration of Crypt orchids. 
Ectopiae of the testicles may be divided into two classes— 
inguinal or false cryptorchidism (flankers) and abdominal or 
true cryptorchidism (ridglings or originals). The former in¬ 
dicates that the testicle is lodged somewhere in the inguinal 
canal and the latter that it is in the abdominal cavity. 
The castration of abdominal cryptorchids has long been a 
subject of grave importance to veterinarians, but we may 
search in vain the whole held of veterinary literature for a 
description of the operation that would be of the least value 
to the young surgeon. In fact, if he were to follow the direc¬ 
tions of such eminent authors as Hertwig, Hering, Vogel, 
Stockfleth, Degive, Schmidt, Ostertag, Putz, Jacoulet, Flem¬ 
ing and Liautard, he would not operate at all, or worse still, 
operate with fatal results. The practical surgeon who follows 
the American or Miles method of operating, is not, after read¬ 
ing a description of Degive’s method as given by Liautard in 
“ Animal Castration,” surprised that he lost thirty per cent, of 
those operated upon. The wonder is that he did not lose a 
