262 OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE. 



resembles that in cows, but he lays special stress on disinfection of the 

 vulva and vagina. The parts are injected and washed with 3 per cent, 

 creolin solution daily for two or three days before operation. He also 

 draws attention to the fact that immediately after operation animals 

 are apt to show colic, which continues from two to four days. He 

 condemns irrigation of the vagina after operation. 



Castration of cows and mares is apt to be followed by chronic 

 inflammation and suppuration in the neighbourhood of the vagina, 

 which may continue for months, and even prove fatal. Adhesions may 

 also occur between the vagina and bowel or wall of the abdomen, and 

 lead to twist of the bowel, with fatal results. Bourges saw a mare die 

 of twisted intestine caused in this way three months after castration. 

 Delamotte reports the case of a mare in which abscess formation 

 followed castration. Luckily the abscess discharged into the vagina, 

 and recovery occurred. 



4. The castration of sows is gradually being discontinued. The 

 improved races of swine exhibit sexual appetite to a less degree than 

 the old breeds. They remain on heat for a shorter time, and their 

 fattening suffers little in consequence, so that castration has become 

 more or less superfluous. The operation is not difficult, but requires 

 much practice, and is seldom performed by veterinary surgeons. 

 However, as the veterinary surgeon must have at least a theoretical 

 acquaintance with it, a short description of the method is appended. 



It is usually performed at the age of four to eight weeks — seldom 

 in old breeding sows, although they bear the operation well — but must 

 not be performed while the animal is on heat. The best time for 

 castrating old animals is from four to six weeks after parturition. 



In swine the ovaries hang from the long bowel-like horns of the 

 uterus, which possesses no distinct neck or mouth, for which reason it 

 is possible to reach both ovaries from one flank, or to introduce a 

 director into the uterus, and by thrusting the organ towards the linea 

 alba to remove the ovaries from the abdominal floor. For this reason 

 two methods of operation are in use, one from the flank and one from 

 the lower wall of the abdomen. The first is practised as follows : 



The animal is placed on the right side, with the head and neck on 

 the ground, and the hind quarters lying in front of the left knee of the 

 operator, who sits on a stool. The hind legs are held extended 

 backwards under the operator's left arm by an assistant, whilst the 

 operator himself presses the animal's head and neck on the ground 

 with his right foot. 



The knife usually employed has a short broad blade, with a rounded 



