CASTRATION. 



561 



maintained reclining upon his side, at tlie pleasure of 

 the operator ; who, so long as he is kept thus secured, will 

 in Rnj situation find himself in perfect safety. 



Cleansing and lubricating the Genitals is a pre- 

 parative adopted by most gelders and farriers. It may be 

 observed, in regard to it, that, to drawing the penis, and 

 sponging and cleansing it, and the sheath, with tepid water, 

 wiping them dry with a linen cloth, and afterwards smear- 

 ing them both with lard, there cannot be any objection ; 

 nor, unless the parts really be foul, will, I think, any mate- 

 rial advantage be found to result from it. 



Castration by Cauterization is the operation gene- 

 rally practised in our own country ; though one wh cli the 

 veterinarians of France, D'Arboval informs us, have aban- 

 doned for these sixty years past : the operation being there 

 in the hands of gelders only, whose knowledge is tradi- 

 tional. It is by us performed as follows : — The instru- 

 ments, &c. required are, a sharp scalpel of large size; a pair 

 of steel clams, slightly curved ; two budding or common 

 firing irons, the latter with straight edges, to be made red- 

 hot ; a sponge, and pailful of water. The operation is com- 

 menced by imprisoning between both hands the testicle 

 lying uppermost, and then grasping and holding it fast 

 with the right hand, while the left is slid round in front of 

 it to obtain firm hold of the cord, above the epidydimis, 

 which enables the operator to carry the testicle backward 

 and upward, and, by ^o doing, to render the skin over it 

 smooth and tense. The raphe must he his guide in regard 

 to the skin being drawn into its proper relative situation, as 

 well as for his first incision, which is to be made in a line 

 parallel with it, and at the distance of about a finger's 

 breadth from the side of it. Should the action of the 

 cremaster oppose the operator getting complete possession 

 of the testicle, a sudden thwack upon the body of the horse 

 or violent shake of his head, taking him by surprise, will gene- 

 rally occasion a momentary relaxation, of wliich the operator 

 must not fail to take advantage. With the scalpel in his 

 right hand, now at libertv, the operator draws a fine iuci- 



II. - * 36 *' 



