502 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



wound closes too soon, it should be re-opened by breaking 

 down the adhesions with the fingers, after which bathe 

 nicely with tepid water. 



Peritonitis. — Peritonitis may follow the operation when 

 it has been performed in a bungling or rough manner. 

 Drawing the cord down too far when castrating the animal 

 may cause an attack, as may the use of too much caustic 

 when the operation is performed with the clamps. It may 

 also be caused by exposure to cold weather, etc. ; in fact, 

 any thing that acts as an irritant to the parts may give rise 

 to an attack of peritonitis. It sometimes occurs without any 

 assignable cause, and in many cases may be due to the 

 animal being in poor condition or otherwise unfit for the 

 operation. It is by no means an uncommon result, and 

 when it occurs usually appears about the third day after 

 the operation has been performed, and occasionally is ob- 

 served even when the operation of castration has been 

 performed under the most favourable circumstances. It 

 manifests itself in the usual way, and should be treated as 

 an ordinary case of peritonitis. For treatment, etc., see 

 'Peritonitis.' 



Tetanus. — Tetanus as a result of castration may occur 

 irrespective of the method employed, or the condition of 

 the animal at the time of operating, hence the surgeon per- 

 forming the operation should not be blamed. The disease 

 usually appears about the time the wound begins to heal 

 nicely ; an attack may also be induced or excited by ex- 

 posure to cold and wet weather, standing in a stream of 

 cold water, etc., and may occasionally take place without 

 any such exciting causes, the presence of the wound being 

 sufficient to account for its occurrence. It may also occur 

 as a coincidence, that is, a case of traumatic tetanus may 

 result in consequence of the presence of some other trivial 

 wound without being in any way influenced by the large 



