REMOVING THE CLAMS AETER CASTRATION. 219 



clams are usually left in position for forty-eight hours, though Degive 

 recommends leaving them three to live days. Moller also approves 

 the longer period, and finds that inflammatory symptoms are then less 

 marked, and fever rarer than when the clams are removed forty-eight 

 hours after operation. This is explained partly by the fact that after 

 the clams have been several days in position the necrotic stump of the 

 spermatic cord is not so liable to be retracted upwards, carrying septic 

 material into the upper portion of the sac of the tunica vaginalis. It must 

 also be remembered that after a few days the edges of the wound 

 become infiltrated with plastic material, and are therefore less likely 

 to be infected than twenty-four hours after operation. At the time of 

 removing the clams, however, the greatest care cannot prevent 

 circumstances arising favourable to the absorption of wound dis- 

 charges. It is common experience that inflammatory swelling or 

 fever first appears on removal of the clams. Provided their position 

 be satisfactory the clams may be left on for four or five days ; other- 

 wise, and especially if they are so pendent that the cord shows above, 

 they must be removed as soon as possible. The operation is carried 

 out in the following way : 



A bridle is applied and held by a capable assistant, and one of the 

 animal's fore feet is lifted. It is best first to attempt removal without 

 using the twitch ; should the attempt fail it can be applied. Having 

 provided himself with a strong, clean pocket-knife, the operator places 

 himself at the horse's left side, the left hand resting on the animal's 

 loins, and, using curved scissors, endeavours first of all to clip away the 

 portion of the spermatic cord hanging below the clams. The thumb 

 of the right hand is then placed against the front of the clam, the 

 knife is slipped between the back ends and the string uniting them is 

 divided. At the same time the knife is rotated in the hand, forcing 

 the two portions of the clam apart. Discarding the knife for a 

 moment the operator seizes the free ends of the clam with both 

 hands, and slowly opens them as far as possible. The spermatic 

 cord is then usually found to be adherent to one side of the clams. 

 Should not the artery have become thrombosed a bluish-red line 

 appears in the parchment-like remnant of the cord, and extends 

 towards the cut margin until finally a few drops of blood fall. In 

 such case a silk thread must be passed round the vessel at the margin 

 between the healthy and the crushed portions of the cord by means of a 

 sharply curved needle, drawn tight and knotted. If no bleeding occur 

 the cord is cautiously separated by sliding the thumb from in front back- 

 wards along the depression in the centre of the clam. The operator 

 then throws the clams to one side, rinses his hands in sublimate solution 



