184 CASTRATION DANGERS. 



Castration by removal of the testicles is accompanied or followed 

 by various dangers which must be carefully kept in mind when 

 operating. They are : — 



(a) Haemorrhage from the spermatic vessels, which under certain 

 circumstances may prove fatal. 



(b) Wound infection, which almost always follows opening of the 

 scrotum and may extend to the abdominal peritoneum, causing fatal 

 peritonitis. In castration, as usually performed, aseptic healing of 

 the wounds is seldom possible and their infection is almost un- 

 avoidable, though proper precautions in regard to cleanliness and 

 drainage generally prevent a fatal result from this cause. 



(c) In those methods of castration in which the tunica vaginalis 

 reflexa is opened (uncovered operation), some danger of prolapse of 

 bowel or omentum always exists. As a rule, however, such an 

 accident only occurs when the inner abdominal ring is exceptionally 

 large, or when inguinal hernia exists, for which reason the scrotum 

 should always be carefully examined prior to operation. 



The various methods of dividing the spermatic cord are : 



1. Tearing away of the Testicles. This method is still used in 

 the case of calves, lambs, and swine ; after opening the scrotum 

 the testicle is grasped and forcibly torn away. In countries like 

 Russia and Australia, where very large numbers of lambs have to be 

 castrated, the system is still followed ; lay castrators in South 

 Germany also continue its use. Should the central portion of the 

 cord not be firmly held, however, the fold of the peritoneum which 

 surrounds the spermatic vessels within the abdomen is torn across 

 or the divided end of the cord is withdrawn into the abdomen, where 

 it becomes adherent to the peritoneum near the inner abdominal 

 ring ; in either case the bowel may be incarcerated, sometimes with 

 a fatal result (" gut- tie "). 



2. Scraping the Cord is sometimes resorted to in young calves, 

 swine and sheep. After opening the tunica vaginalis, the cord is 

 laid across the left index finger and scraped with a blunt knife until 

 divided. The blood-vessels are thus torn, and bleeding is usually 

 trifling. Dawson and Hurford have successfully employed this 

 method with horses ; the posterior portion of the cord was simply 

 cut through and only the vessels were scraped. 



3. Linear Crushing of the Cord by the Ecraseur. Many English and 

 American practitioners employ the ecraseur for castrating stallions and 

 other animals, the chain or loop of the instrument being passed round 

 the covered or uncovered cord, which is slowly crushed and divided. 

 Under the strain the tissues of the cord are more or less intertwisted, 



