CHAPTER IV.
THIRD METHOD OF CASTRATION — CRUSHING OF THE TESTICULAR CORD — DOUBLE SUBCUTANEOUS TORSION — BISTOURNAGE — FOUR STEPS OF THE OPERATION — SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING — CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS — INGUINAL CRYPTORCHIDY — ABDOMINAL CRYPTORCHIDY — MODUS OPERANDI — FIVE STEPS IN THE OPERATION — EFFECTS FOLLOWING THE OPERATION OF CASTRATION — MODE OF CICATRIZATION — HYGIENIC AND SUBSEQUENT ATTENTIONS OR AFTER CARES.
As I have before stated, the third method of castration embraces the processes in which the testicular envelopes are left intact, while it is the gland or cord which is submitted to the peculiar manipulations by which their structure, and therefore the secreting powers of the testicle, are so essentially modified. In treating of this method, two special operations present themselves for our consideration, to wit: the crushing of the testicular support, and the double subcutaneous twisting, or bistournage of the French. These are employed principally in the castration of ruminants, though efforts have been made to apply the latter in the case of solipeds. The modes of operating which we have already described are, however, also applicable to the ruminants.
CRUSHING OF THE TESTICULAR CORD.
This consists in crushing the spermatic cord with a hammer, the vessel continuing, meanwhile, to be covered with its envelopes. It was first described in the year 1826, and is most commonly practised in some French districts. The instruments used are two cylindrical pieces of wood, each about one yard in length and two inches in diameter; and a hammer or mallet formed of hard and heavy wood. The animal being properly secured in the standing position, the testicles being drawn well down into the bottom of the envelopes, the sticks are placed, one behind and one in front of the cord, close to the upper extremity of the gland. When in that position they are moved in such a manner that instead of remaining, one in front of the other, one becomes so superimposed upon the other that the spermatic cord becomes twisted in the form of the letter S ([Fig. 15]). While held together in this position by an assistant, the operator, placing himself in front of one side of the hind quarter, with repeated blows of the hammer or mallet, crushes the cord at the point where it rests upon the wood which occupies the inferior position, of course guaging the force and frequency of the blows by the effect observed, until the crushing of the organ is satisfactorily accomplished. As a measure of caution, it will be well, upon the completion of the process of crushing, to surround the cord with a ligature moderately tightened, in order to guard against the drawing up of the cord into the inguinal canal, an accident not likely to occur, however, if the operation has been well performed.
Fig. 15.
CASTRATION BY CRUSHING OF THE CORD.