424 VETERINARY LECTURES 



weeks old, is castrated by its owner ; but, when asked to operate, I 

 get an attendant to cast and hold the animal in a sitting position on 

 its hind-quarters, with a strap round both hind shanks, on which the 

 foot is placed. The testicles are next pressed up tight, and with a 

 quick sweep of the knife a good opening is made into the scrotum, 

 first on one side, and then on the other, making both cuts into one 

 at the end ; next get hold of the testicle, cut through the non- 

 vascular portion, and either draw the cord or pull it tight, and cut it 

 quickly through. When operating on the bull from six to twelve 

 months old, it is best to have the animal standing, and held by an 

 attendant by the nose, with the right side against a wall, door, or 

 gate ; the operator stands on the left behind the hind-quarters, and, 

 grasping both testicles at once, makes a clean cut with the knife, 

 first on one side, then on the other, round the end of the scrotum ; 

 the non-vascular portion is next severed, then the clams are applied 

 to the vascular part of the spermatic cords of both testicles, about 

 2 or 3 inches above those organs, and both are slowly seared through 

 at once with the hot iron. 



739. The Pig.— An attendant usually holds it firmly by the 

 hind-legs, with the back towards the operator; the testicle is 

 pressed up behind close to the tail root, and cut down upon with a 

 sharp knife ; the testicle is then pulled up, and the cord laid over the 

 sharp edge of the knife and cut quickly through. 



740. The Lamb.— Shepherds are generally the best and most 

 fortunate operators on this animal, cutting through the skin of the 

 scrotum with a knife, and drawing the testicle and cord out with 

 their teeth. The operation on an aged ram is most successful 

 when the bag is divided with the hot iron and the testicles are 

 seared off with the same. 



741. After-Treatment for Castration. — If the colt has been indoors 

 before the operation, keep it in a box till the parts are healed. If 

 out at grass, bring it in, and keep indoors until the day after the 

 operation ; after which, if the weather be fine, let it out daily for a 

 few hours. As a result of castration, swelling to a greater or lesser 



