CASTRATION WITHOUT CASTING. 211 



should not be castrated when in training^, as their muscular strength 

 is so great that limbs may be broken during operation. In England, 

 America, and France, horses are sometimes castrated in the standing 

 position, though this is certainly not favourable to proper performance 

 of the operation, as is conceded even by supporters of the method. 

 It succeeds well enough in foals and quiet phlegmatic animals, which, 

 however, can also be cast without much danger. Joyeux is believed 

 to have been the first to castrate horses standing. The method was 

 afterwards modified by the American castrator Miles, and more recently 

 has been recommended by a number of operators in England, and by 

 Salinier, Cagny, and others in France. Joyeux operated from the 

 right, Miles from the left side, both with clams, the former by the 

 covered, the latter by the exposed method. 



Joyeux applies blinds and a twitch, and fastens the horse up short by 

 means of a strong head collar. After placing hobbles on the hind feet, 

 connected to a cord passing round the neck, the operator takes up his 

 position facing the horse's right flank ; with his left shoulder somewhat 

 lowered and his left arm advanced he then grasps the scrotum and 

 draws the testicles one by one downwards, the left hand gliding down- 

 wards along the course of the spermatic cord. Immediately the cord 

 has been secured by the left hand, the layers of the scrotum are succes- 

 sively incised from in front backwards, care being taken to protect the 

 left thumb. On dividing the outer skin and tunica dartos, the testicle 

 descends, whereupon the operator separates these tissues from the pro- 

 cessus vaginalis, until the assistant, who stands at the horse's left side, 

 can slip a pair of clams from behind over the spermatic cord. This 

 accomplished the operator grasps the forward end of the clams, applies 

 the forceps or screw, and the assistant ties the clams. During the opera- 

 tion the forceps must be pressed towards the abdomen, and in a back- 

 ward direction in order to prevent the spermatic cord being torn 

 through. After snipping off the right testicle the left is removed in 

 the same way. 



Salinier operates by means of caustic clams, and first of all applies 

 a ligature around the neck of the scrotum. Whilst the operator draws 

 the testicles downwards the ligature is applied and tied by an assistant ; 

 the more tightly it is drawn the quieter does the horse remain 

 during operation. Trasbot, whose practical experience is very great, 

 altogether condemns castration in the standing position. 



Miles castrates foals from the left side. He ties the animal up 

 short with the right side against the wall, and thrusts a scaffold pole 

 or similar piece of round wood against the animal's left thigh in order 



