The Common Farm Operations. 203 



culator and a castrating knife, which should be placed in 

 an antiseptic solution ten minutes before operating, 

 the hands and arms being also cleansed with the same 

 material, it is also good practice to examine the parts for 

 ruptures, etc. 



The essentials to success in castration are: thorough 

 cleanliness, got by the plentiful use of antiseptics, good 

 health at the time of operation; and exercise afterwards. 

 The scrotum is seized between the finger and thumb, so 

 as to tighten the skin over it, and a good incision (four 

 inches or thereabouts) made over the testicle, right 

 through the coverings of the testicle, which will then pop 

 out. The einasculator is applied well up on the cord, the 

 rough edge to the body, and the handles closed, the testicle 

 removed, the operation being repeated similarly on the 

 other testicle. Some of the antiseptic may be poured 

 into the wounds, the colt let up and stabled for eight to 

 ten hours, when it should be turned out with the others, 

 if a mature horse, hitch and give a short drive or slow 

 work; if cold rains occur the colt must be stabled. The 

 wounds should be examined occasionally in order to see 

 that they are kept open, thus insuring the drainage away 

 of any pus. It should be remembered that the testicles 

 of colts may not descend until twelve months old, some- 

 times as late as two years old. 



Bulls are castrated standing, the head being tied up 

 solidly to a strong poSt, an attendant at each side stead- 

 ies him, the operator stands squarely behind the bull, 

 seizes the scrotum, gives it a half turn round and draws 

 it out between the hind legs, the incision is made from 

 nearly the top to the bottom of the sac, the testicle drawn 



