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SURGICAL SKILL

to enlarged testicles, and for this they some-times perform the operation of boca (castration).Mr. Mariner’s limited observation on this sub-ject does not authorize him to speak with anydegree of certainty in regard to the precisenature of these tumefactions. Their mode ofperforming this operation is summary enough :a bandage being tied with some degree of firm-ness round the upper part of the scrotum, so asto steady the diseased mass, at the same timethat the scrotum is closely expanded over it,an incision is made with bamboo, just largeenough to allow the testicle to pass, which be-ing separated from its cellular connexions, thecord is divided, and thus ends the operation:they neither tie the cord, nor take any pains tostop the bleeding; but, if the testicle be notvery large, arid the epidydimis not apparentlydiseased, they perform the operation by dis-secting it from that body with the same in-strument. The external wound is kept fromclosing by a pledget of the banana leaf, whichis renewed every day till the discharge hasceased ; the scrotum, in the mean time, is sup-ported by a bandage. A profuse haemorrhageis mostly the consequence of this operation :it was performed seven times within the sphereof Mr. Mariner’s knowledge, during his stay;to three of which he was a witness: not one