206 CASTRATION OP SHEEP AND GOATS. 



some operators therefore recommend saturating it with a solution of 

 three parts of sublimate in thirty parts of collodion. The caustic 

 ligature has the advantage of more rapidly dividing the spermatic 

 cord, and therefore of separating sooner, whilst the sublimate exercises 

 a disinfecting action both on the cord itself and on the wound. Some 

 practitioners, however, have noted severe swelling after this operation. 

 Eckmayer ligatures the exposed spermatic cord with carbolised silk, 

 and removes the testicle half an inch below the ligature. He operated 

 thus on more than 100 calves without any bad result. Gunther 

 recommends the use of the elastic ligature for bulls. 



Another method of castration has been recommended. After 

 opening the scrotum the spermatic cord is perforated between the 

 vascular and non-vascular portions with a knife, and the index finger 

 of the left hand is inserted in the slit so produced. The testicle being 

 removed with the knife, the stump of the cord is passed through the 

 slit, and tied in a knot. Should bleeding not immediately stop a 

 second or third knot may be tied. Some operators first divide the 

 non-vascular portion of the cord with the knife, then, after grasping 

 the blood-vessels firmly with the finger and thumb or with forceps, 

 divide these low down near the testicle. One or more knots are then 

 tied as high as possible on the vascular cord and drawn tight. As 

 soon as the operator is satisfied that bleeding is no longer to be 

 feared the free end of the vascular cord is snipped away three- 

 quarters of an inch below the knot or knots ; the latter are returned 

 into the sac of the tunica vaginalis and thrust as high up as the 

 fingers can reach. This method is particularly recommended for 

 old bulls ; but in calves, as the spermatic cords are not fully 

 developed, the knots are sometimes difficult to tie. The greatest 

 cleanliness must be observed. 



Wehrhahn has shown that bulls may be castrated aseptically, 

 though only at the cost of much time and care. 



Sheep are best castrated between the fourth and sixth weeks. 

 The animal is laid on a table (lambs are held by the legs), the limbs 

 being grasped by an assistant or tied together ; old rams should be 

 placed on the back, and held by a couple of strong men. In lambs, 

 scraping or torsion is the best method. Old rams may also be 

 castrated by torsion, provided sufficient care be taken, though ligation 

 is also successful. Clams are very seldom used in sheep. The 

 scrotum is either opened as in the horse, or its base is cut off, a 

 method which ensures free drainage. 



Goats are best castrated by subcutaneous ligation of the spermatic 

 cord or by means of the elastic ligature, as before mentioned. 



