CASTRATION. 



759 



CASTRATION OF THE RAM. 



Most of the preceding methods may be used in castrating rams, 

 but certain special methods are more generally employed. These we 

 shall shortly mention. 



Castration by Bistournage. — The method is exactly similar to that 

 in the bull. The animals are placed in the position shown in the 

 figure, except that the hind limbs are extended and held in that 

 position by the operator's knees or feet. The process is only applic* 

 able to animals of four or five months old. 



Castration by Tearing. — This method is only practised by shep- 

 herds, and on animals a few days or at most a month old. The 

 base of the scrotum is snipped o& with scissors, the testicles are 



Fig. 317. — Castration of young pigs. 



enucleated, and each in turn is seized and torn away with a sudden 

 snatch. Even though a considerable length of cord is removed with 

 the testicle, bad results seldom follow, provided the subject is not 

 of greater age than that mentioned. 



Castration by Ligature. — This method consists in passing a stout 

 ligature in the form of a running knot over the neck of the scrotum 

 and, by means of two short pieces of wood, drawing it tight. The 

 method, however, is not to be recommended, as it not infrequently 

 leads to tetanus. 



CASTRATION OF BOARS AND YOUNG PIGS. 



For castration boars should be cast on the left side, and three 

 legs at least firmly secured together (Fig. 317). The best method is 

 that of limited torsion. Care should be taken to avoid dragging the 



