CASTRATION 



631 



again. Removal of the second testis is but a repetition of what has been 

 here described. The traditions of the castrator vary in the different counties, 

 and some not only smear the clams with an ointment of verdigris, but 

 prefer to divide the scrotum with a keen-edged iron instead of a knife, 

 using a special iron for scaring the cord. The majority of colts are still 

 castrated in this way, but among veterinary surgeons whose greater 

 fitness makes the survival of the castrator only a question of time, several 

 other methods are employed. An American, styling himself "Farmer 

 Miles," created a good deal of sensation by introducing the Ecraseur 

 which is here illustrated (Fig. 113). The principle upon which it works 



Fig. 112.— Castrating Claji. 



is the crushing and squeezing together of the divided tissues in such a 

 manner as to preclude h?emorrhage. It usually succeeds, but if the artery 

 bleeds an hour or two after the operator has g&ne away it is a difficult 

 matter to stop it, and some deaths have occurred in this way. A decided 



Fio. 118. — Ecraseur. 



improvement upon it is the Huish-Blake castrator, which crushes the cord 

 and artery by means of a serrated metal disc placed in the slot (see Fig. 

 114 on next page), and a serrated blade and outside ledge. 



Such an instrument, which can be used with one hand, offers great 

 advantages over the original Ecraseur, and the patentee has been at 

 some pains to collect reliable statistics respecting its use, which go t«j prove 

 that hsemorrhage or other bad results are very rare. This instrument is 

 specially favoured by those persons who practise what the Editor of the 

 Veterinary Record has called " acrobatic surgery," by which term he 

 describes the operation of castrating colts in the standing position. Why 

 a man should accept a serious risk to his own person, rather than allow a 

 slight risk to the owner's colt, I cannot conceive, but this method is becom- 

 ing very common among the more athletic members of the veterinary 

 profession. 



Operation by Caustic Clam is a very old one, and has been revived with 

 the " standing " operation. It is very much more painful than the actual 



T T 



