102 ASEPTIC CASTRATION. 



Bleeding may follow operation by clams which are warped, 

 insecure, or not tight enough ; or the cord having been severed too 

 close to the clam the artery may recede from its grasp, and occa- 

 sionally the horse in an effort to remove the clam tears the cord. 

 Secondary haemorrhage sometimes occurs at the time the clams are 

 removed, owing to too much force being employed, or subsequently 

 from infection of the clot, which quickly disintegrates. The clams 

 should not be pulled off ; it is safer to cut the fastenings and allow 

 the clams to fall. 



Clams have been condemned as unsurgical, seldom aseptic, 

 exposing the scrotal wounds to infection, unnecessarily painful, and 

 inconvenient. But experience shows that clams in good condition 

 and properly applied to the cord are safe and effectual in preventing 

 haemorrhage, and of great advantage in the castration of robust 

 and aged horses in either the standing or recumbent position. The 

 greatest danger results from using septic or dirty instruments. 

 Practitioners should exercise scrupulous care in this respect, 

 and should disinfect all instruments before and after use. New 

 clams should be used for each case. 



Aseptic Castration. As was to be expected, soon after the practice 

 of antisepsis became popular, experiments were made to ensure 

 castration wounds healing by primary intention. Bayer first 

 approached this problem in 1881, and was followed at a later date 

 by Frick. Bayer had four successful results among fifteen horses 

 operated upon. At that time he simply divided the cord and 

 ligatured bleeding vessels, but frequently had secondary bleeding 

 owing to the vessels escaping from the ligatures. He then resorted 

 to simple ligation of the entire cord. Here also he had healing by 

 first intention, but the horse was often compelled to lie down soon 

 after operation on account of enormous swelling of the scrotum. 

 In every instance he found that the ligature had slipped off. In 

 one instance he noted the accident occurring. At every pulsation 

 of the spermatic artery the ligature yielded, at first almost imper- 

 ceptibly, afterwards at a faster rate. ■ When the ligature was held 

 with the finger the cord was drawn out of the loop. Frick had 

 seven successes in twelve cases. Guttman castrated two horses, 

 two boars, two dogs, and a goat with antiseptic precautions, in each 

 case obtaining healing by primary intention. Plosz was equally 

 successful with six stallions. 



One must not forget, however, that observance of the necessary 

 principles of asepsis is much more difficult in private practice than 

 in clinical institutions. Moller operated several times, but with 



