CASTRATING STALLIONS BY TORSION. 221 



In castrating foals the tunica vaginalis reflexa is always opened and 

 the testicle exposed unless signs of hernia exist. In older stallions, 

 especially when the outer abdominal ring is of abnormal size, the 

 covered method, or Degive's operation (in which the spermatic cord is 

 not exposed), is preferable, as it prevents prolapse of the bowel. 

 Should the common vaginal sheath appear fairh' long, the covered 

 method may be emplo}'ed. Where, however, it is little developed, the 

 application of clams might cause dragging and severe pain, in which 

 case Degive's method deserves preference. 



Castration with clams has the drawback of necessitating a second, 

 or even a third, professional visit. The precautions needed in removing 

 clams are too important to be entrusted to laymen ; rapid healing ot 

 the wound and avoidance of later complications can onh- be assured 

 by the operator's personal attention. 



(b) Division of the Spermatic Cord with the Actual 

 Cautery. — -A second method, sometimes used in the horse, consists in 

 dividing the spermatic cord with the actual cautery. It has alread}' 

 been described, and has the advantages over castration with clams that 

 it is aseptic, and that operation is at once complete. Provided proper 

 care be taken, secondar}- bleeding is rare, and the local reaction, 

 evinced by swelling, etc., is seldom more marked than after other 

 methods. Care must be taken, however, to make the incision in 

 the scrotum and tunica vaginalis reflexa sufficienth- large to ensure free 

 drainage. 



(c) Torsion of the Spermatic Cord if carefully performed is also 

 a reliable method, and has the great advantage of rendering a second visit 

 unnecessary. It also seems less painful than castration with clams, 

 which, even if skilfull}^ carried out, must cause a certain strain of the 

 spermatic cord. Moreover, healing is more rapid after torsion. 

 Sloughing of the portion of the cord included in the clams must 

 necessaril}' take a very considerable time. In torsion such delay is 

 avoided, because the stump of the spermatic cord seldom becomes 

 necrotic. Severe swelling, so marked after castration with clams, is 

 therefore relatively uncommon, and scirrhous cord is a rare sequel. 



The chief and practically the only objection to this method consists 

 in the danger of secondary haemorrhage. By using proper forceps, 

 and operating carefully, bleeding can, however, be reduced to a 

 minimum, even in the case of old horses. Nevertheless the owner's 

 attention should be drawn to the fact that slight bleeding may occur, 

 though it is not of importance. MoUer used formerly to check bleeding 

 after this operation by introducing a mass of sterilised tow into each 

 of the scrotal cavities, and securing them with a couple of sutures. 



