28 Animal Castration 



energy to say nothing of the additional pain inflicted upon the 

 patient as a result of prolonged surgical interference. 



After Care and Treatment, — A small per cent of stallions after 

 castration will become unusually and uncomfortably restless and 

 suffer what appears to be excruciating pain. Sometimes this pain 

 is inter-abdominal and sometimes not. In such cases Fluid Ex- 

 tract Cannabis Indica should be administered in ounce doses at 

 two-hour intervals. The animal should ])e frequently observed 

 for appearance of secondary hemorrhage and other sequelae 

 which may arise. The diet should be limited, and plenty of exer- 

 cise allowed. Best to run at pasture during recovery and con- 

 valescence. Endeavor to keep them away from stable and barn- 

 yard manure. If the lips of the incisions should adhere together 

 to the extent of stopping free drainage from the scrotum, the 

 parts should be thoroughly w^ashed and reopened by forcing one 

 or more clean fingers through the scrotal incisions. In some in- 

 stances it becomes necessary to ' ' open up ' ' every two days for six 

 or seven days. However, so long as the wounds are draining 

 "opening up" is unnecessary. 



After castration it is not necessary to protect stallions, colts 

 and mules from flies, as this class of animals prevent ''fly con- 

 tamination" of the scrotal wounds by the free and well-directed 

 use of their tails. Even in the midst of "fly time" we never have 

 maggots develop in their scrotums. 



Contrary to the teachings of some, the author's experience would 

 indicate that warm showers and even rains on animals after cas- 

 tration are not harmful and are to be greatly preferred over 

 allowing the animals to remain in the barn and barnyard in con- 

 stant danger of wound contamination from manure, dirt, etc. 



Treatment of the various sequelae of castration will be taken 

 up in subsequent pages. 



Profjnosis — Under parallel conditions and sui-roiuidings there 

 appears to be very little or no more danger in castrating aged 

 stallions than colts. However, on the other hand, when we face the 

 fact that a large per cent of stallions are affected with cord, scrotal, 

 testicular and othei' diseases which must be taken into considera- 

 tion in comparing the danger of castrating stallions with that of 

 colts we are constrained to state the danger to old stallions far 

 exceeds that of younger animals. 



