CASTRATION. 569 



dence, draws the clams up so violently against the belly that 

 irritation and swelling are likely to be the consequence. I 

 have known this to happen while the testicles have been 

 left hanging on^ and I have been obliged on this account to 

 cut them away, with the clams, twenty-four hours before the 

 usual period of time. The only thing that can be urged, I 

 think, against their remaining on until they come away 

 spontaneously, is the protraction of a spectacle of which, 

 from its being disagreeable to common observers, we are 

 perhaps desirous in general to abridge the duration. 



The ^' COVERED ^^ Operation has always appeared to me 

 to be more difficult of performance than the '^ uncovered '^ 

 one : there is more trouble in getting on the clams, and a 

 great deal more force required to close them ; in conse- 

 quence of which, I should imagine, the pain must be a great 

 deal more ; and this is one, we are told, from which tetanus 

 has resulted. In a case where hernia was either present or 

 suspected, certainly the covered mode ought to have the 

 preference : added to which, its advocates tell us, it possesses 

 the advantage of not exposing the abdominal cavity to the 

 influx of air. 



After the operation, if the weather be fine, and parti- 

 cularly should our patient be manifesting any uneasiness, 

 walking exercise in hand for an hour will prove of service 

 to him ; and as soon as he is returned to his stable or box, 

 he should be secured to the rack with one or two strong 

 halter-ropes, so that he can nowise get his head to his flank 

 and tear himself. Should he have a long tail, it had better 

 be plaited and doubled up, to prevent him switching his 

 genitals. In respect to exercise, according to D^Arboval, 

 no harm can arise from giving it for some hours, 

 \'^ather permitting, immediately after the operation, and it 

 ought to be repeated daily until suppuration be completely 

 established ; and afterwards too, with the precautious tliat, 

 at this period, it be now limited and confined to the finest 

 part of the day. Should there be more than ordinary tume- 

 faction, fomentation and aperient medicine may be required. 

 In a case where much constitutional irritation prevails, we 



