ANIMAL CASTRATION. 83 



moderate diet, varying according to his condition, 

 are included in the only general instructions that can 

 be given. 



The wound simply requires to be kept clean. 

 Washing with cool water and soap when the dis- 

 charge is well established, will fulfil this indication. 

 The closing of the edges of the wound is to be care- 

 fully prevented by the introduction of the finger be- 

 tween them, care being taken to avoid the laceration 

 of any points where union has already taken place 

 in the upper part of the wound. 



It is not an unusual thing to find even these sim- 

 ple measures of caution overlooked by gelders, some 

 of them even recommending that the animal should, 

 immediately after the operation, be violently exer- 

 cised even put in harness and made to draw a 

 wagon. It is true that a little and gentle exercise 

 may be beneficial, with a view to the removal of the 

 soreness and pain of the newly castrated animal ; it 

 must be admitted even that Professor Bouley recom- 

 mends slow exercise to be carried to the extent of 

 fatiguing the animal. But when we take into con- 

 sideration how seriously some animals, at least, are 

 affected by the operation, and the serious complica- 

 tions which may follow it even laying aside the hu- 

 manitarian view of the question we must neces- 

 sarily Conclude that such directions and such a 

 practice is in violation of all the laws of true surgery, 

 and even if justified by the strongest statistics, is 

 condemned if confronted by a single fatal case. 



