ANIMAL CASTRATION. 129 



present themselves, arising from the age of the animal 

 or the structure or other conditions of the ovaries. 



This method of castration has been modified in 

 many ways, both as to the forms of the instruments 

 used, and the mode of using them, a majority of 

 operators, at the present time even, discarding the 

 dilator, and making the incision simply by stretch- 

 ing the walls of the vagina and pushing against the 

 neck of the uterus with the hand. The manner in 

 which the removal of the ovaries is effected has also 

 been subjected to many changes. For more than 

 twenty years, during which we have been perform- 

 ing the operation, we have been accustomed to use 

 the ecraseur in the last step, and with excellent and 

 satisfactory results. 



The subsequent attention required by the spayed 

 cow is usually a very simple matter, and involves, 

 little beyond careful dieting, the patient recovering 

 from the general effects upon the system usually in 

 a few days. 



COMPLICATIONS. 



It may properly be said that there are no compli- 

 cations likely to follow the process in the castration 

 of cows, which may be denominated serious. In the 

 statistics which record the mortality attending it> 

 the fatal cases are represented at the very trifling 

 rate of two per cent. A light colic may sometimes 

 follow it, but it usually subsides without medical 

 treatment. Still, however, spaying may at times be 

 accompanied by accidents of a serious character^ 



