CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS. 
815 
some kind of antiseptic wash, among which I prefer Van 
Swieten’s solution. This prescription is highly recommeuded 
by Mr. Degive, and to it I owe the constant success I have 
met with. 
4. —»Ablation of the Testicle .—Drawn into the inguinal tract, 
the testicle drops down more or less, according to the length 
of the cord. Generally there is no trouble to bring it down 
to the inguinal ring. If the testicle remains concealed higher' 
up I use the ecraseur. In the seven abdominal cryptorchids 
that I have operated I used the torsion four times and the ecra¬ 
seur three. I had hemorrhage only in the last case—this was 
readily stopped with packing. As to the other modes of abla- 
lation, such as clamps, ligature, cauterization, etc., they all have 
serious objections, and I have never used them. 
5. —Cleaning the wound —The operation finished, the inguinal 
region is freely sprinkled with cold water, to remove the blood, 
or to produce by refrigeration a most beneficial hemostasis. 
The scrotal wound is then wiped dry with a very clean cloth 
and afterward sprinkled with Van Swieten’s solution. As 
already said, to comply with Mr. Degive’s suggestions, I have 
in four of my cases of abdominal cryptorchidy brought up the 
edges of the wound with sutures. These, which must be re¬ 
moved after twenty-four hours, have for object to keep the 
intestine in place and prevent its dropping on the ground should 
an eventration take place a short time after the operation. I 
have since neglected this addition to the operation, as I con¬ 
sider it useless. 
I have never used the contentive dressing of Jacoulet, 
which is thus described: “ A round pad of oakum, the size of 
a man’s fist, moist with oil, is squeezed at the entrance of the 
interstice between the lips of the inguinal ring and no farther. 
Upon it the scrotal skin is drawn and kept in place with a 
little bunch of straw and secured with four quill sutures, left 
on for forty-eight hours. After that time hernia is no longer 
to be feared, and the products of inflammation must have a free 
exit.” 
The operation for us then terminates as a simple castration 
by immediate excision of the testicles. 
(To be continued). 
