242 
F. MAURI. 
appear justifiable to assume that there must have been a 
fallacy in the one or the other series of experiments, ancb 
from the smallness of their number, those in which the large 
proportion of positive results was obtained are most open to 
uspicion. 
CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS. 
By Peof. F. Mauei, of the Veterinary School of Toulouse, France. 
(Continued from page 187). 
Diagnosis of Cryptorchids. 
The diagnosis of cryptorchids involves an inquiry into the 
general character of the subject and the critical examination 
of the scrotal region. Excepting for the absence of the tes¬ 
ticle in the scrotal region, the animal has all the conformation 
and appearance of the entire horse, and is spirited, fiery and 
noisy in the presence of animals of his own species. No 
practitioner can be mistaken as to the significance of such 
manifestations. But it is important, from a surgical point of 
view, to determine whether the cryptorchidy is permanent, 
whether it is on the right side or the left side, or whether it 
is double. 
In the colt, the testicles have generally descended when 
he is six months of age ; their migration, however, may be 
delayed to a later period, and may not take place until he has 
attained his first year or eighteenth month, or even his second 
and perhaps his third year. It is therefore only when the 
most extreme of these terms has been reached without the 
descent of the testicle, that the ectopia can be considered as 
definite. The presence of a testicle has often been observed 
at eighteen months or two years at the time of castration, 
with the dropping of the second organ only six months or a 
year after the removal of the first. The castration of the 
cryptorchid is, therefore, only justifiable when he has fully 
reached his three years. By thus waiting, the animal may 
complete his development, and this will render the operation 
easier, besides insuring the benefit of the spontaneous descent 
of the delayed organ. 
