CHAPTER XI. 



CASTRATION AND THE DIFFICULTIES AND 

 DISEASES THAT FOLLOW. 



UNDER favorable conditions of health, castration should 

 be performed at the age of one year. The safest 

 months are April and May, and the safest time eight 

 or ten days after being turned out to pasture when 

 he is shedding his coat. 



I. — Precautions Before Operating. 



Never operate on a colt unless he is in good condition 

 and healthy. See that he has no distemper or any such 

 disease. Choose good weather — not too hot or too cold — and 

 avoid east winds and damp weather. It is necessary that 

 hands and instruments be thoroughly cleansed by washing 

 them in warm water, a little soap and a few drops of carbolic 

 acid. If the age be above a year it is best to feed very light 

 the day before the operation, as there is less danger from 

 being thrown and tied and also from the operation itself, 

 when the bowels are empty. It is important to ascertain 

 whether or not the colt has ever suffered from rupture, as he 

 must be acted upon differently. Examine the testicles to see 

 that they are down. An aged horse's sheath is sometimes 

 dirty, and when such is the case it should be washed out, 

 cleansed and oiled well with lard a few days previous to 

 operation, to prevent after-swelling. Generally speaking, 

 after these precautions, so far as the animal is concerned, he 

 is ready for the tackling. 



II. — Casting or Throwing. 



There are several methods of doing this. It is only 

 necessary here to mention two of the most important. 



1. The Belt Tackling. 



The Belt Tackling is the simpler of these, the easier to 

 handle and that more generally used in this country. We 

 have used it successfully in our own practice and confidently 



