202 CASTRATION — REMOVAL OF THE CLAMS. 



carrying infection 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 infection 

 by wound discharges. It is common experience that inflammatory 

 swelling or fever first appears on removal of the clams. 



It is best first to attempt removal of the clams without using the 

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

 himself with a clean pocket-knife, the operator places himself at 

 the horse's left side, the left hand resting on the animal's loins ; 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 clam. 

 If no bleeding occur the cord is cautiously separated by sliding the 

 thumb from in front backwards along the depression in the centre of 

 the clam. The operator then throws the clam to one side, rinses his 

 hands in sublimate solution or other disinfecting fluid, and endeavours 

 to free the spermatic cord from any adhesion with the scrotum by 

 passing the index finger around the stump of the cord. 



If bleeding should follow removal of the clam' the cord should 

 be ligatured, or the clam may be replaced. The second clam having 

 been removed, a strong stream of sublimate solution or clean cold 

 water should be directed into the scrotum ; this has the double effect 

 of partially cleansing the wounds and of causing retraction of the 

 spermatic cords. 



After removal of the clams the horse should be exercised daily 

 for half an hour or longer, or turned out ; in the country full-grown 

 horses may be put to light work. Experience has shown that long 

 rest in the stable is disadvantageous. The good effects of exercise 

 are largely due to the fact that they favour escape of discharge. For 

 a similar reason it is important to make the incision through the 

 scrotum well forward and as large and dependent as possible. The 

 extensive swellings which sometimes follow castration are almost 

 exclusively due to want of cleanliness in operation or to retention 

 of wound discharges. Special treatment of the scrotal wounds is 

 seldom necessary. They should be cleansed daily with an antiseptic 



