C52 



CAfiTRATION. 



Le induced by very fi-ivial exciting causes, such as a coiiimor. 

 cold, or a hard day's work. The cord then inflames, the animal 

 becomes lame, stiff, feverish, and unfit for work, and will 

 •occasionally remain in this condition for several weeks after tlie 

 abscesses have discharged their contents. Geldings subject to 

 tliis affection are generally unthrifty, go wide^behind, and with 

 a degree of stiffness in their gait. They are unsound, and 

 should the veterinarian be called upon to examine a case of this 

 kind, even months after the animal has been purcbased, he 

 need not hesitate to certify as to the unsoundness, provided 

 lie can discover that the animal has had abscesses upon a 

 "previous occasion ; and this can always be done by examination 

 x}f the scrotum, upon the surface of which depressed cicatiices, 

 indicating the seat of former abscesses, will be found. 



The treatment is removal of the diseased cord by torsion/' 

 A case is repoited by ^Ir. Percivall of a tumour of the cord, 

 from this cause, weighing twenty-nine poiinds. 



PERITONITIS. 



Inflammation of the peritoneum may manifest itself as early, 

 as the second day after castration has been perfonned. It is 

 jjenerally due to one of the following causes : — The prevalence 

 of eapterl^jsdujiB ; exposure to cold ; tlie animal being unfit for 

 operatioiT , h'\ 



jeith©¥--beiiag__toQ_ialL-.or_too lean ; dividing the 

 cord too hioh np ; or it may originate from some constitutional 

 tendency to inflammatory disease when all external circum- 

 stances are good 



The sij)n2^toms are those ol dejection and dulness ratlier than 

 «f acute pain ; the animal seems to suffer most excruciating 

 ngony, but is Loo depressed or too much afraid to express liis 

 sufToring in the usual manner. If tJicre ai'e colicky ]>nins, their 

 lunuifestatiou continues but for a short period, and gives way to 

 great depression ; the animal standing almost immoveable ; a 

 tucked-np and tense abdomen ; huixied breathing ; quick, liard, 

 wiry, rapid pulse; coldness of the extremities; rapid sinking, 

 nnd death ; occasionally the animal becomes delirious, or coma- 

 tose and paralysed. 



Traumatic j^eritouitis is an iunammation poilnking of the 

 nature of ai'ysipclas. spreading rapidly from its point of origia 



