OOPHORECTOMY. 241 



Castration of mares is not often followed by a fatal result, though 

 sometimes owing to accidental wounding of the uterus, or bowel, 

 or to infection conveyed by the hand or instruments peritonitis sets 

 in, causing death within thirty-six hours. Fatal haemorrhage should 

 not occur if the vagina is incised with ordinary care at the proper 

 place. In both mares and cows castration may be followed by 

 chronic inflammation with suppuration of the pelvic connective 

 tissue close to the vaginal wound. This complication arising from 

 infection at the time of, or subsequent to operation, may continue 

 for months, and even prove fatal. Adhesions may also form between 

 the vagina and bowel or wall of the pelvis, 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 

 a case of a mare in which abscess formation followed castration. 

 Luckily the abscess discharged into the vagina and recovery occurred. 



(d) The castration of the sow 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 usually performed at the age of six to ten weeks 

 — seldom in old breeding sows, although they bear the operation 

 well — but should not be performed while the animal is in oestrum. 

 The best time for castrating old animals is from four to six weeks 

 after parturition. 



In swine the ovaries hang from the long, flexuous, bowel-like 

 uterine horns, which, at the age of six weeks, are about the size of a 

 goose-quill. The ovaries, small, irregular, and enclosed in a fold of 

 the broad ligament, are situated a little behind the point correspond- 

 ing to the angle of the haunch. It is possible to reach both ovaries 

 through one flank, or by introducing a probe into the uterus and 

 thrusting the organ towards the linea alba to remove the ovaries 

 through the abdominal floor. For this reason two methods of opera- 

 tion are in use, one through the flank and one through the lower 

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



The animal is placed on the right side, and the hind legs are held 

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

 whilst the operator 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 cutting edge, and is unprovided with a spring, so that it 

 can easily be opened or shut with one hand. After clipping away 



R.S. R 



