Castration of Animals with the Burdizzo Pincers. 421 



the bag' sliould be gripped above the clamps and the cord itself telt 

 for with the first finger and thumb. On pressure the nails of the 

 thumb and fingei- will almost meet, being separated only by the double 

 layer of skin of the bag. The coixl sliould yield and go back about 

 half an inch, so indicating that it is properly severed. (Fig. 3b and 

 Fig. 6 c.) This procedure is not absolutely essential, but it is a wise 

 precaution to make sure that the operation has been complete. It is 

 seldom that any difficulty occurs, since the spermatic arteries and 

 veins are very easily obliterated and the cord easily cut through. 

 (Fig. 3b and Fig. 6 a, h.) In young donkeys (2 to 4 years old) the 

 cord is particularly fragile and easily severed. In many cases the 

 contraction of the muscular l)and withdraws the severed vessels about 

 an inch, without the application of any finger pressure at all. It 

 appears that the only cases in which the operation fails are those in 

 which the cord slips away from the jaws of the pincers. In their 

 first trials in securing the cords of old bulls and donkeys, farmers 

 might make use of a pair of carpenter's pincers about 6 inches long, 

 slightly modified for the purpose by a blacksmith, as shown in Fig. 7. 



Fig. 7. — Carpenter's pincers, as modified. 



It has sometimes been asked whether both cords can be caught 

 at the same time by the pincers in the case of lambs. This can be 

 done quite well, not only in lambs, but also in small calves, pigs, 

 dogs, and cats, provided the operator is well acquainted with the 

 operation and carries it through without hesitation. The clamps 

 must not be left closed on the bag for long, and hence the whole job 

 must be done quickly; otherwise there is the danger of the bag itself 

 being cut through and falling off. 



Since skill in any operation needs practice, farmers should prac- 

 tice with the pincers on dead lambs or bulls whenever they get the 

 chance, either at a butcher's, or on animals which have died or are 

 killed on the farm. In this way experience in handling the cords 

 of the testicles can be acquired, with the advantage that the bag can 

 be cut open afterwards and examined to see whether the technique has 

 been efficient or not. 



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