CASTRATION OP THE MARE. 151 



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 inflam- 

 mation 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 body, 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 womb, 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 off. 

 It might be torn off by an ecraseur especially constructed for the 

 purpose. The straining that follows the operation may be checked 

 by ounce doses of laudanum, and any risk of protrusion of the bowels 

 may be obviated by applying the truss advised to prevent eversion 

 of the womb. To further prevent the pressure of the abdominal con- 

 tents against the vaginal wound the mare should be tied short and 

 high for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, after which I 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 injections of warm water in case it should 

 threaten to become impacted. 



STERILITY. 



Sterility may be in the male or in the female. If due to the stal- 

 lion, then all the mares put to him remain barren; if due to the mare, 

 she alone fails to conceive. 



