628 
TAIT BUTLER. 
pose well, as in that way he can withdraw his fingers with the 
epididymis or vas deferens, as the case may be, and then by 
gentle traction the soft testicle may usually be removed with¬ 
out enlarging the opening. When the testicle has been ex¬ 
posed the ecraseur is the best instrument for its removal. 
There is another condition occasionally met with which may 
give some trouble to those who operate according to the above 
method. It is where the testicle is still in the abdominal cavity 
but a portion of the cord has passed through the internal in¬ 
guinal ring into the canal. 
If when breaking down the loose tissue in the direction of 
the internal inguinal ring the cord, or, as is usually the case, a 
portion of the epididymis, be felt in the canal it is easily distin¬ 
guished even from a very small testicle and then the operator 
may choose between two methods of procedure. One is to go 
directly down upon the loop of the cord and run the risk of 
being compelled to dilate the internal ring, by the use of the 
probe-pointed bistoury, in order to remove the testicle through 
it; while the other is to enter the abdominal cavity close to 
the ring and by grasping the testicle pull the loop of the cord 
out of the canal. If there be no adhesions, and they are rare, 
I prefer the latter method as requiring less work and possess¬ 
ing greater safety. 
The wound should be kept thoroughly aseptic by frequent 
irrigation with a sublimate solution—I to 1000—during the 
operation, and in no case should oil be used - to lubricate the 
hand, because it is neither conducive to cleanliness nor neces¬ 
sary. The natural moisture of the tissues and the sublimate 
solution are all the lubricants needed and possess the advan¬ 
tage of leaving the wound clean and free from all septic ma¬ 
terial. If proper antiseptic precautions have been observed 
that portion of the wound near the opening through the ab¬ 
dominal wall will heal very readily and without suppuration. 
The wound in the skin and dartos should be left open and 
thoroughly dusted with iodoform. A daily repetition of this, 
with plenty of gentle exercise after the first twenty-four hours, 
and good care, constitutes all necessary after-treatment. It is 
good practice, however, upon allowing the animal to rise to 
