ANIMAL CASTRATION. 89 



region assumes, and by its characteristics of cold- 

 ness, loss of sensibility, and crepitant feeling, but 

 by the foetid odor proceeding from the wound, and 

 by a change in the character, or the disappearance 

 of the suppuration, which is succeeded by a sanious, 

 bloody and offensive discharge. To this series of 

 symptoms are to be added a marked increase of the 

 general disturbance, manifested by increased thirst, 

 anorexia, foetid mouth, change of color in the mucous 

 membrane to a livid hue, increase of pulse, with 

 weakening, increased respiration, temperature at first 

 elevated and then diminished, and after five or six 

 days a final termination in the death of the patient. 

 The progress of this complication is so rapid, and 

 the chances of recovery are so few, that the necessity 

 for prompt treatment becomes at once obvious. All 

 the diseased and mortified parts must be removed at 

 once, and means instantly employed to prevent the 

 absorption of gangrenous matter. Friction with am- 

 moniacal and turpentine liniments must be used over 

 the swelling ; the parts must be subjected to the 

 actual cautery at white heat, and disinfecting agents 

 of all kinds must be freely used, as chloride of lime, 

 carbolic acid, and permanganate of potash, while in- 

 ternal treatment must immediately be instituted by 

 the administration of stimulants and antiseptics in the 

 form of ammonia and phenic acid, or its preparations. 



ABSCESSES. 



When these are likely to result from a too rapid 

 closure of the edges of the scrotal envelope, the 



