CRYPTORCHID CASTRATION.* 
By Dr. A. B. McCapes, Boulder, Colo. 
Preparation. 
The success of an operation on a cryptorchid depends largely 
on the condition the animal is in when the operation is performed, 
and the dexterity of the operator; therefore considerable care 
should be exercised before attempting to operate. It must be re¬ 
membered that the operation is an abdominal one, and abdominal 
operations in the horse are not to be considered lightly; further¬ 
more there is no way to determine what conditions may present 
themselves when the operation is being performed. For in¬ 
stance, if the patient is a colt or young horse, one should de¬ 
termine by examination and by questioning the owner, whether 
or not the patient or any other colts or horses living with the 
patient has recently or at any other time been afflicted with 
strangles. If such an examination proves that strangles is pres¬ 
ent, the operation should be postponed. If the patient shows an 
unthrifty condition, determine if possible the cause of such con¬ 
dition, and if it is produced by some debilitating disease, post¬ 
pone the operation until the patient is improved. 
If it is apparent that such condition has been brought about 
by improper food and the patient shows a normal temperature 
and normal pulse, the operation may be performed with safety. 
This is especially true of colts running in the pasture and of old 
horses at work. 
Patients that have been kept confined in the stable, especially 
when the surroundings are filthy (as is often the case), should 
not be operated upon until they have had a few days of exercise, 
the stable thoroughly cleaned of all foecal matter and of all stable 
refuse of any character. The patient should be thoroughly 
* Presented at the semi-annual meeting of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Associa¬ 
tion, Ft. Coiiins, Col., May 31 and June 1, 1912. 
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