SURGERY OF THE DOG. 387 



Castration and Spaying. It is impossible to predict 

 what effect on the physical and psychic nature of the dog 

 these operations may have. After either, the subject may 

 be little more than a useless, animated mass of flesh, un- 

 worthy the name of " dog." The author would not allow 

 any dog he owned to be thus operated on, nor could he be 

 induced to perform it except when the parts are diseased ; 

 and he hopes the time is not far distant when every repu- 

 table veterinary surgeon will take the same view of the 

 case, and absolutely refuse to thus run the risk of de- 

 stroying the dog as a dog merely to gratify the whim of 

 some owner who wishes to shirk his responsibility. Every 

 man should either not keep a dog at all or treat the ani- 

 mal as a dog. A spayed or castrated dog can not win a 

 prize on the bench. Both operations are simple, and with 

 due precautions they may be safely undertaken when really 

 required, but always antiseptically. Before the testicles 

 are severed the spermatic cords should be each secured 

 with a stout ligature, to prevent haemorrhage. The same 

 applies to the ovarian tubes. 



Umbilical Hernia. This affection arises from incom- 

 plete closure of the abdominal walls, allowing the intes- 

 tine to fall into the sac of distended skin. When small, it 

 is likely to disappear in puppies. If large or growing 

 worse, operation is demanded. The animal is to be anaes- 

 thetized, the sac opened, and the edges of the abdominal 

 parietes brought together by strong sutures after the gut 

 has been returned within the abdomen. The skin is to be 

 separately sutured and covered with antiseptic dressings. 

 It is well to keep the dog quiet for a couple of days, and 

 to cover the wound with a firm pad and bandage. 



