CASTRATION. 573 



much concerned in its removal from pressure, because of the 

 excess of pain felt when it is included. It is necessary, 

 before the final fixing of the clams, to determine on the part 

 where the division of the cord is to take place. To use 

 Mr. Percivall's words, 'If it be left too long, it is apt to 

 hang out of the wound afterwards, and retard the process of 

 union ;' on the other hand, if it be cut very short, and the 

 arteries happen to bleed afresh after it has been released 

 from the clams, the operator will find it no easy task to re- 

 cover it. The natural length of the cord, which will mainly 

 depend on the degree of the descent of the gland, will be 

 our best g-uide in this particular. The place of section 

 determined on and marked, close the clams sufficiently 

 tight to retain firm hold of the cord, and to effectually stop 

 the circulation within it. There are now two modes of 

 making the division : the one is to sever it with a scalpel, 

 and then to sufficiently sear the end of it as to prevent a 

 flow of blood. The other, and in some respects the prefer- 

 able method, is to employ a blunt-edged iron, which is to 

 divide by little crucial sawings, so that, when the cord is 

 separated, it shall not present a uniform surface, but ragged 

 edges, which will perfectly close the mouths of the vessels . This 

 done, loosen the clams sufficiently to observe whether there 

 be any flow of blood ; gently wipe the end of the cord also 

 with the finger, as sometimes an accidental small plug gets 

 within the vessel ; this had better be removed at the time. 

 Retain a hold on the clams a few minutes longer ; and 

 while loosening them gradually, observing to have an iron 

 in readiness again to touch the end of the cord, if any blood 

 makes its appearance. Satisfied on this point, sponge the parts 

 with cold water ; no sort of external application is necessary, 

 still less any resin seared on the end of the cord, which can 

 only irritate and will never adhere. On the after-treat- 

 ment much difference of opinion has existed, and even yet 

 exists. The powerful evidence of accumulated facts has 

 now convinced us of the necessity and propriety of some 

 motion for the newly castrated horse, as a preventive of 

 local congestion ; such practice is common in most countries, 

 and seems salutary in all. Hurtrcl d'Arboval, thus im- 

 pressed, recommends the horse, immediately after the 

 operation, to be led out to walk for an hour ; and it is 



