farmers' institutes. 767 



an inch ou oue side. The incision should be made with one stroke of 

 the knife and large enough to allow the testicle to slip out. In young 

 pigs the cord of the testicle may be broken off and removed at one jerk. 

 In older ones it can be severed by cutting and scraping it with a dull 

 knife. The opposite testicle is then removed in a similar manner. Be- 

 fore liberating the pig the incisions in the scrotum should be examined 

 and if they do not extend to the lowest part of the scrotum, they should 

 be enlarged. This will allow the blood and pus to drain off instead of 

 collecting in the part. The wound requires no after treatment. The 

 pig should not be allowed to wallow in ponds or remain in dirty, dusty 

 or muddy pens. The operation in the boar with the exception of sever- 

 ing the testicle cord is the same. The cord in the old hogs is large and 

 the hemorrhage is dangerous, if cut off Avith a sharp knife. Scraping 

 the cord in two with a dull knife If properly performed will so crush^ 

 the blood vessels that" little bleeding occurs. Another method sometimes 

 used is ligating it before cutting it off. The best instrument to use, how- 

 ever, is the emasculator. This instrument will so crush the end of the 

 cord that no hemorrhage follows the operation. 



Complications Following Castration.— This operation is not free from 

 complications. Observations have proven that they are more common 

 wlien the work is done carelessly and no attention paid to the antiseptic 

 I>ri'fautions than if the proper cnro .qiid .iiitiscptif precautious are ob- 

 served. 



Hernia. — This is a rare complication of castration, but may be caused 

 by jerking the cord too hard when breaking it off, or from an injury when 

 handling the pigs. When operating we should be prepared to treat all 

 cases of hernia, whether present at the time of the operation or resulting 

 from it. The covered operation can be used for scrotal hernia. 



Hemorrhage.— Hemorrhage is not a dangerous complication in pigs. 

 In old hogs it will occur if precautions are not takeji against it. Excessive 

 blCH'ding can be stopped by picking up the stump of Iho coid and ligating 

 it. I'ackiug the scrotum with clean cotton and suturing the incision in 

 its walls may stop it. The cotton should be left in the scrotum for at 

 least a day. - 



Fibrous Tumors.— The most common coinplication following castration, 

 is the formation of tumors in the scrotum. These tumors are sometimes 

 enormous in proportion to the size of the pig and grow rapidly. If large 

 llie pig does not thrive and becomes stunted. It differs from hernia and 

 hydrocle in that it is very hard. 



The cause is infection of the parts with germs either at the time of 

 oi>erating or following it or leaving the stump of the cord too long. 



The treatment is to dissect the tumor out. This method of treatment 

 will not be successful unless ;ill the growth is removed. The operation 

 is (j\iite painful and frequently the pig dies as a result of it. If the 



