CONSEQUENCES OF CASTRATION. 649 



Tetanus may result from castration, although the operation 

 has been carefully performed. It happens here as it does when 

 caused by any wound or injury, and the operator cannot be held 

 responsible, although attempts have been made to recover 

 damaG^es when death has so occuiTed. 



Amaurosis. — This complication has been observed by several 

 writers, but in every instance the horse has been subjected to 

 improper treatment shortly after the operation, or the haemor- 

 rhage has been excessive. In some instances sight has been 

 restored in a few days, whilst in others the animal has remained 

 permanently blind. 



Hernia after castration has been already noticed. 



Champignon, scirrJms of the cord, or sarcocele, arises from cas- 

 tration with the caustic clam, when the operator has neglected, 

 while removing the clam, to separate the adhesions which 

 always take place between the cord and the lips of the wound ; 

 from castration with the actual cautery when the cord has been 

 left too long, or when the crem aster muscle has suffered from 

 some debility, and the extremity of the cord has remained in 

 contact with the wounded scrotum, or has slightly protruded 

 beyond the opening. Mr. Percivall, translating D'Arboval, 

 gives an extended account of this affection ; but it is evident 

 that neither he nor his French authority had ever considered 

 the above-mentioned causes. In order to prevent scirrhus of 

 the cord, it is necessary when the operation is performed by the 

 clam, that the operator should introduce his finger into the 

 wound, and gently separate the cord from the scrotum, by 

 tearing the adhesions asunder, and pushing the cord upwards 

 towards the abdominal ring. There is no difficulty in eff'ect- 

 ing this at the time the clam is removed, the material consti- 

 tuting the adhesions being of a non-vascular, easily lacerable 

 nature ; whereas, if the separation be not effected, the end of 

 the cord, imprisoned in the scrotal wound, and subjected to 

 sources of irritation, becomes inflamed, and finally constitutes 

 a fibro-vascular mass, sometimes attaining the size of a man's 

 head, forming a fungous tumour several pounds in weight. Mr. 

 Percivall states that the tumour varies in size and form ; some- 

 times its largest part is below, sometimes above. In my own 

 experience, the tumour has been largest below, appearing as a 

 cauliflower excrescence on the cut end of the cord, the cord 



