162 CASTBATION. 



cord) snap with very little bleeding.* If they snap so that 

 a portion of the nerve adhering to the body remains exposed, 

 it should be cut off. Tar, butter and turpentine should be 

 applied to the parts. 



* Some foreign shepherds have various absurd processes of severing the last 

 attachments, before the entire spermatic cord snaps asunder. Some chew them off 

 others cut them off by rubbing the thumb nail across them. Mr. Spooner recom- 

 mends, even in the case of a youn.gr lamb, to put iron clams on the spermatic cords 

 and to divide them with a hot iron. 



I have given the process, in the text, as it is generally performed, and as it is 

 always performed among my own sheep. But there is no denying that pulling out 

 the testicle in this way often draws out the spermatic nerves (plexus testiculareg) so 

 that they do not snap within three or even four inches of the testicles. The remain- 



ing part, of course, retracts within the abdominal ring, which must certainly be 

 injurious, and might, with an animal less capable of enduring all sorts of mistreat- 

 ment, have serious consequences. I have tolerated the practice because thus tearing 



the spermatic cord asunder, prevents bleeding ; and the hot iron, etc., are inconven- 

 ient. Pulling out the testicle far enough and severing it with a hot iron (without 

 using the clams) might also sufficiently prevent bleeding. 



