292 SPAYING. 



the separation sliould then be effected by the scalpel or knife be- 

 tween the ligature and testis. It is sometimes performed without 

 the ligature, by making the division of the cord with a red-hot 

 knife, but the other is the neatest and safest mode. It saves the 

 animal much pain if the vas deferens be excluded from the liga- 

 ture ; and it is very easy to do so. The castration of cats is 

 sometimes practised to keep them from roving, or to increase 

 their size. For this purpose nothing more is requisite than to 

 make a slight opening on each side the scrotum, to slip out the 

 two testicles, and draw them away with the fingers. The rupture 

 alone of the spermatic cord prevents haemorrhage in them, and 

 no future inconvenience is felt. It is often found difficult to se- 

 cure a cat for this operation ; but it may be easily managed in two 

 ways: — one by putting the head and fore-quarters of the animal 

 into a boot ; the other by rolling his whole body length-ways in 

 several yards of towelling ; but the former is the most secure and 

 simple, for no animal is more intractable as a surgical patient than 

 grimalkin : though to administer medicines to a pig, beats the cat 

 hollow, as an obstreperous operation. 



SPAYING. 



This is so cruel an operation, that it should not be practised 

 but when there is a real necessity for it : when it is done merely 

 to convenience the owners, by preventing oestrum and breeding, 

 it defeats its own purpose. There are, however, cases when it 

 is actually requisite ; as when some peculiarity occurs that would 

 prevent a bitch pupping with ease and safety ; or when she has 

 been connected with, and is found to be pregnant by, a dog much 

 larger than herself : in which case, as she would probably die in 

 labour, it is not improper to remove the puppies in the third or 

 fourth week of gestation. The operation is performed by making 

 an opening in the flank of one side, when the ovaria, being en- 

 larged by pregnancy, are readily distinguishable, and may be drawn 

 out and cut off, first one and then the other ; securing the ends by 



