CASTRATION. 493 



CHAPTER XXV. 



CASTRATION. 



The operation of castration is usually performed when 

 the colt is about one year old, which, taking everything 

 into consideration, is the best age for the performance of 

 the operation. It may, however, be performed on animals 

 very much younger, or a great deal older, than the age 

 mentioned. If it is desired to have the horse heavier 

 in the forehand — that is, improve the neck and fore- 

 quarters — the desired object may be effected by allowing 

 the animal to attain an age of two or three years, or, in 

 certain rare cases, four or five years, before operating. 

 Removal of the testicles may be effected in various ways, 

 and there is every now and then some new metjaod of 

 operating introduced to the notice of the profession, the 

 latest being the operation with the ' ecraseur,' which is 

 rapidly coming into favour. Castration is usually per- 

 formed during the spring. The months of May, June, 

 and September, being temperate, are good months in w^hich 

 to perform the operation, and no animal should be sub- 

 jected to it when the weather is excessively warm, or very 

 cold, as in warm weather the flies prove a great source of 

 annoyance to the animal, collecting around the wound, and 

 depositing their ova, as a result of which, in a few days, it 

 may be a mass of maggots^ and sufficient irritation set up 

 to cause the death of the animal ; w^hile in cold M^eather 

 the animal, especially if allowed to run out, will be likely 

 to take cold in the wound, in which case a fatal result 

 may be expected to occur. As a rule the colt should have 

 a run at grass for ten days or a fortnight before being 

 operated upon. The system is, in this way, cleared of all 

 morbid material, and the animal fitted for the operation. 



