260 NAVIN ox THE HORSE. 



colt intended to be castrated should ever be allowed to cover 

 a mare. 



There are several different modes of performing the oper- 

 ation of castration. That which is, perhaps, most in use in 

 this country is the French method. For its performance are 

 necessary a pair of hobbles, so constructed as to cast the horse 

 or colt, and secure the hind-legs firmly forward, a scalpel, or 

 sharp knife, some waxed thread, and a pair of clams. The 

 clams are best made of a piece of dry elder, from five to six 

 inches in length. They are split open and the pith removed, 

 and one end of each piece beveled off for about half an inch. 

 A notch, or groove, is cut around them. The place occupied 

 by the pith is then filled with a thick paste made of flour and 

 mixed with corrosive sublimate. The two pieces are then 

 placed together, and a waxed cord tied around the beveled 

 end, so as to form a sort of hinge. The clam thus prepared is 

 ready for use. 



The subject is cast, and his hind-legs well secured forward. 

 The operator then places himself so as to grasp the testicle in 

 his left hand, the knife being in the right, and by a gentle 

 sweep of the knife backward, cuts through the scrotum, or bag, 

 when the testicle, covered by the muscle called the cremaster, 

 and the tunica vaginalis, will be exposed. By a very gentle 

 sweep of the knife, these are next divided, and the testicle en- 

 tirely uncovered, is in view. Or, all may be done by the first 

 sweep of the knife. The clam is then placed well up on the 

 cord, above the epididymus, or smaller testicle, and the open 

 end of the jaws brought firmly together by a few turns of cord 

 in the groove, and then tied. The parts outside of the clam 

 are then cut off. The testicle on the upper side, as the horse 

 lies, should be first operated on, and then the under one. On 

 the second day after the operation, the clams should be re- 

 moved, which is done by cutting the wax cord by which they 

 are tied, when they readily come oft'. 



Another method, much used, is by cauterizing, or searing. 



