578 
A. B. M’CAPES. 
but are retained close to the external ring, cannot in any sense be 
termed cryptorchids. 
Owing to the site of this operation it is necessary to use a 
throwing harness, which may be tied in such a manner as to flex 
the hind limbs as much as possible without injury to the horse. 
Operation. 
The animal now being in a suitable position, the operator 
should have at hand two dishes in which antiseptic fluids are con¬ 
tained; in one of them should be his knife and whatever instru¬ 
ments are to be used in severing the testicle; I prefer the ecraseur 
for this reason: In a number of cases the cord will be short and 
some difficulty will be experienced in getting it down where the 
emasculator might be used, while the ecraseur may be placed 
over it even if it is covered by the skin and tissues. The anti¬ 
septic contained in the other dish is to be used in washing the 
parts around where the incision is to be made. These parts 
should be thoroughly cleansed, using a carbolated soap in con¬ 
junction with the antiseptic. The finger nails should be cleansed 
of all dirt and the hands thoroughly cleaned and dipped into' the 
liquid contained in the instrument dish or into a new solution 
made in another. 
After the parts have been prepared as stated and the proper 
side determined, make an incision through the skin about four 
inches long, parallel with the vein, and about four inches above 
the median line, then break down through the cellular tissue, go¬ 
ing backwards and slightly upwards until you have broken down 
sufficient tissue to place your hand underneath the skin. Some 
care should be exercised in breaking down the tissue in order not 
to injure the vein, under which the hand must be placed when in¬ 
serted into the opening. After the hand is placed under the skin 
the fingers should all be closed on the palm of the hand except 
the fore finger. With this finger the operator should continue 
to break down the connecting tissue between the abdominal mus¬ 
cle and the thigh until the finger has reached the internal ab¬ 
dominal ring; this point will be known by the slight depression 
