270 
R. J. STANCLIFT. 
artery to bleed. In case VIII, the covered operation was performed 
and the ligature was passed around the envelopes and the cord, 
but was not drawn sufficiently tight to thoroughly compress and 
retain the spermatic artery. The ligation over the inner enve¬ 
lopes in the covered operation would be practical in yearling 
colts and those under that age, but would not be practical, as a 
rule, in those older than one year. 
The temperature of those animals which healed by primary 
adhesion did not exceed 102.4° reference to the chart on 
pages 266 and 267 will show, and only in those cases where there 
was infection was there a high temperature. This would make 
it appear that the high temperatures reported by Frick were 
due either to slight infection, or to the introduction of an irri¬ 
tant into the scrotum in the form of the sublimate solution, and 
that it was not due to the resorption of the ligated end of the 
cord ; but the time at which his high temperatures occurred 
corresponds to the date at which infection fever usually takes 
place. 
In carrying on these operations, it was found best to make 
some changes, which appeared to be and proved more practical. 
The first was the use of sterile silk instead of catgut to ligate 
the spermatic cord. 
The use of silk to close the scrotal wounds was also found 
best. This was used both as interrupted and continuous sutures. 
The interrupted suture was found to give the best results, as it 
was only with the continuous suture that there was any infec¬ 
tion, though there were a number which healed by primary ad¬ 
hesion, where the continuous suture was used. 
The use of some agent, such as wound gelatin, to apply to 
the wounds after operation was performed was found to be 
much more convenient, as it does away with the necessity of 
applying antiseptics to the scrotum daily until healing occurs. 
There may be other agents, which would answer the same pur¬ 
pose. The requirements are ; 
A substance which can be applied to a moist surface and 
will stick, and when dry it must be flexible and not crack when 
