630 
TAIT BUTLER. 
the sheath immediately anterior to the spermatic cord. The 
ligature around the anterior portion should be drawn moder¬ 
ately tight but the one which incloses the cord should not be 
tied tight enough to cause necrosis of the part enclosed. This 
done the testicle may be removed with the ecraseur within 
half an inch of the ligature. If a suspensory be applied, 
which is not necessary, it need not be left on for more than 
twenty-four hours. By this method protrusion of the intestine 
is as effectually prevented and moreover, there is no clamp or 
other foreign substance to impede the immediate healing of 
the wound. The operation for inguinal and scrotal hernia 
which at the same time combines the two important factors of 
success, security and simplicity, and also obviates the neces¬ 
sity of emasculation, is certainly the highest desideratum. The 
operation which does this must close the vaginal sheath at 
the internal inguinal ring, as by that alone can the descent of 
the bowel be effectually prevented with any degree of cer¬ 
tainty. Stanley’s operation, as given in Williams’ “ Principles 
and Practice of Veterinary Surgery,” is, as far as it goes, the 
method which I propose to describe, but he does not complete 
the operation so as to effectually prevent a recurrence of 
the lesion, which is perhaps the chief advantage possessed by 
this method of operating. Whether the operation be for 
scrotal or inguinal hernia, strangulated or otherwise, it is 
exactly the same. 
The animal should be thrown and secured as for ridgling 
castration, and placed upon his back with his hind quarters 
well elevated. If the hernia is not strangulated it may be 
readily reduced before any incision is made, and even in some 
cases of strangulated hernia the same may be true ; but if the 
hernia cannot be easily reduced the surgeon should cut directly 
down upon the inguinal canal at (or an inch below) the internal 
inguinal ring. The incision may be made longitudinally, or 
over the course of the inguinal canal, but the latter is preferable 
if care be taken not to extend the incision sufficiently near to the 
median line to wound the posterior abdominal or epigastric 
vein. It should, however, be sufficiently large to enable the 
surgeon to work without inconvenience, but need only extend 
