ANIMAL CASTRATION. 21 



it is conceded that this hemorrhage, as in many cases 

 of the clean, transverse section of arterial blood 

 vessels, will cease spontaneously by the contraction 

 of the vessels on themselves, and the formation of a 

 clot at the divided end, as well as in the surrounding 

 cellular tissue. However, there is a possibility of the 

 continuance of the hemorrhage for some length of 

 time, and the bad effects of excessive depletion are 

 not to be overlooked, especially in an animal whose 

 general constitution has from any cause suffered im- 

 pairment. If there is any one of the various modes 

 of operating in which the standing position is allow- 

 able, this, in our opinion, is the one, the steps 

 of the process being so few and so short, and 

 admitting such simplicity and rapidity. These con- 

 sist in making a free opening in the bag, reaching 

 with a single stroke of the knife into the vaginal 

 cavity ; grasping the testicle and pulling it gently 

 downwards ; and cutting the cord right across, from 

 the front backwards, above the epididymis, the cord 

 returning of itself into the vaginal sac the division 

 being made, of course, on both sides. The animal is 

 then kept quiet in his stall and left alone until the 

 hemorrhage subsides. 



SCRAPING. 



This operation, which is said to have originated in 

 India, is but a modification of the preceding. In- 

 stead, however, of using a sharp edged instrument 

 to divide the cord, the surgeon, on the contrary, em- 

 ploys a dull knife, with which the coats of the artery 



