DOGS! THEIR MANAGEMENT. 323 



also humane, to consider how far surgery can eradicate 

 the affection ere excision is employed to add to the im- 

 mediate suffering, and perhaps hasten the consequence it 

 was designed to prevent. 



The tumor should he circumscribed, or, at all events, 

 there should he around it a fair proportion of healthy 

 skin whenever its removal is attempted. When such ex- 

 ists, the operation is justifiable ; but without such being 

 present, it is to be condemned. The skin is wanted to 

 close the orifice, and it must be healthy, in order that it 

 may properly unite. In extreme cases, where the life 

 of the animal depends upon activity, it may be proper to 

 remove both testicles; but this should, if possible, be 

 avoided. 



Castration in the dog is not of itself dangerous ; but 

 it renders the animal disposed to accumulate fat, and 

 destroys many of those qualities for which it is esteemed. 

 The creature afterwards becomes lethargic, and its spi- 

 rits never are recovered. It is best performed by cutting 

 through the spermatic nerve, and scraping the artery, so 

 as to separate it ; taking care to do this sufficiently high 

 up to prevent the cord from being exposed. 



When the operator has decided to take away the 

 spermatic glands, he does so at the commencement of the 

 operation. With one cut he lays the scrotum open, and 

 pulling forth the testicle, divides the nerve ; then with 

 the edge of a blunt but coarse knife, scrapes it as the 

 cords lie upon his finger. Having done this on one or 

 both sides, as the case may require, he inspects the tu- 



