DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 151 



being tied as they are reached and the cord finally torn through with 

 an ecraseur. When the cord has become swollen and indurated up into 

 the abdomen such removal is impossible, though a partial destruction 

 of the mass nmy still be attempted by passing white-hot pointed irons 

 upward toward the inguinal ring in the center of the thickened and 

 indurated cord. 



CASTRATION BY THE COVERED OPERATION. 



This is only required in case of hernia or protrusion of bowels or 

 omentum into the sack of the scrotum, and consists in the return of 

 the hernia and the application of the caustic clamps over the cord and 

 inner walls of the inguinal canal, so that the walls of the latter become 

 adherent above the clamps, the canal is obliterated, and further pro- 

 trusion is hindered. For the full description of this and of the opera- 

 tion for hernia in geldings, see remarks on hernia. 



CASTRATION OF THE MARE. 



Castration is a much more dangerous operation in the mare than in 

 the females of other domesticated quadrupeds, and should never be 

 resorted to except in animals that become unmanageable on the recur- 

 rence of heat, and that will not breed or that are utterly unsuited to 

 breeding. Formerly the operation was extensively practiced in 

 Europe, the incision being made through the flank, and a large pro- 

 portion of. the subjects perished. By operating through the vagina 

 the risk can be largely obviated, as the danger of unhealthy inflamma- 

 tion in the wound is greatly lessened. The animal should be fixed in 

 a trevis, with each foot fixed to a post and a sling placed under the 

 bod}^, or it may be thrown and put under chloroform. The manual 

 operation demands special professional knowledge and skill, but it 

 consists essentially in making an opening through the roof of the 

 vagina just above the neck of the vfomb, then following with the hand 

 each horn of the womb until the ovary on that side is reached and 

 grasped between the lips of forceps and twisted oS. It might be 

 torn off by an ecraseur especially constructed for the purpose. The 

 straining that follows the operation ma}^ be checked by ounce doses of 

 laudanum, and any risk of protrusion of the bowels may be obviated 

 b}^ applying the truss advised to prevent e version of the womb. To 

 further prevent the pressure of the abdominal contents against the 

 vaginal wound the marc should be tied short and high for twenty-four 

 or forty-eight hours, after which 1 have found it best to remove the 

 truss and allow the privilege of lying down. Another important point 

 is to give bran mashes and other laxative diet only, and in moderate 

 quantity, for a fortnight, and to unload the rectum by copious injec- 

 tions of warm water in case it should threaten to become impacted. 



