SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 317 



ate this before the division of the spermatic cord it should be twisted sev- 

 eral times in the following manner: Take hold of the spermatic cord with 

 the left hand, having the cord between the thumb and the index finger. 

 Now twist the free portion several times with the right hand, all the time 

 being careful to push with the left hand towards the body of the ani- 

 mal. In this way the danger of injury to the cord during the animal's 

 struggles will be overcome. The hemorrhage will be none, or very 

 little, if it has been done properly. This is the most simple manner of 

 torsion. There are forceps and other instruments made to perform the 

 operation in this manner. Instead of practicing torsion in any of its 

 ways to prevent hemorrhage, we may apply a ligature either directly 

 to the spermatic artery from which the hemorrhage comes, or to the 

 entire cord. You may either use a silk or a catgut ligature. The 

 actual cautery is an old method, but I will not describe it, as I consider 

 that we have better methods now. The next method with the clamps, 

 although extensively used upon the horse, is not practiced to any great 

 extent upon the bovine at the present time. It is a very old method, 

 and is considered very safe. Clamps are used in the covered and 

 uncovered operations. 



But more simple and better methods are now known for the castra- 

 tion of the bull. A more modern method is by the ecraseur. The chain 

 of the instrument is placed around the spermatic cord and tightened 

 so as to crush the tissues and thus prevent hemorrhage. The clamp 

 and ligature are the methods principally employed in the covered opera- 

 tion, and in order to thoroughly understand this procedure it will be 

 necessary for the reader to have at least a crude anatomical knowledge 

 of the parts. The former, or the uncovered, is the usual mode of oper- 

 ating, except in certain abnormal conditions. 



The operation of "mulling" or crushing the spermatic cord is an 

 unscientific and barbarous procedure, causing unnecessary pain and 

 Buffering. 



The above methods apply only to tho animal in a normal condition. 

 Before operating always examine and be sure that everything is as it 

 should be. If otherwise, a special operative procedure will be neces- 

 sary. Whichever mode of operation be adopted from a practical stand- 

 point, the principal precautions to be taken in order to attain success 

 are ns follows: First, thorough cleanliness under strict aseptic and anti- 

 septic precautions; second, free and boldly made incision; third, the 

 avoidance of undue pulling or tension upon the spermatic cord ; fourth, 

 free drainage, which can be maintained, provided the original incision 

 has been properly made. 



CASTRATION OF THE FEMALE. 



Orariotonty or spayiny. Tho operation should be performed when the 

 cow is in her prime and giving her greatest flow of milk, care being 

 taken that she is in good health and moderate condition, not too ple- 

 thoric; or, on the other hand, she must not be at all ana-mic, and also 



