CASTRATION. 581 



admit of separation either with the finger or tlie handle of 

 the scalpel ; an old and firm one may require cutting. This 

 will but somewhat protract the operation — in nowise alter 

 it. The worst accident likely to befal the operator is — 



Hernia; and this, should he have done his duty in ex- 

 amining the animal beforehand, may generally be guarded 

 against, i. e. by modifying the operation and using every pre- 

 caution during its performance ; or not encountered. Com- 

 menting practically on this passage, ]Mr. Hurford, V.S., 12th 

 Dragoons, Madras, writes to me, in the " Veterinarian," 

 vol. XXV, p. 242 — " I confess I do not understand how, and 

 should be very glad to be informed. I have operated on a 

 great number of horses, and I know of no way of preventing 

 hernia. I have also castrated horses that I know have been 

 ruptured, several times; and though I would rather not 

 have done it, I was obliged to go on. Nevertheless, no un- 

 toward symptoms manifested themselves ; while with others 

 in perfect health I have had hernia. Pray notice this, such 

 paragraph in your book, with the authority of your name, 

 might lead non-professional people to blame the operator, 

 though no blame really attached to him :'^ i, e. by re- 

 fusing to undertake an operation, under such circumstances, 

 at all. It is very often of little use in some of these 

 unwelcome cases to represent the risk and danger attendant 

 on castration . the owner perhaps will have it performed. 

 In this case, the operation, of all others, especially adapted 

 for the case, is the '^ covered" one, with pressure-clams. 

 Should hernia, not pre-existent, unexpectedly come on during 

 the operation, the pressure-clams must still be resorted to as 

 the most effectual means of preventing protrusion ; and in 

 such a case, the longer they are kept on the better. In a 

 case of actual protrusion of bowels, the introduction of one 

 hand into the rectum, for the purpose. of withdrawing them, 

 while the other is employed at the scrotum, will be found 

 the readiest mode of returning them. Should intestines be 

 inflated, and thereby augmented in volume, it may be neces- 

 sary to puncture them in places ; at the same time any 

 requisite dilatation is to be made at the abdominal ring, as 



