146 



PAIX AFTER CASTRATION. 



Some horses are pained and very restless for some hours after cas- 

 tration, and this may extend to cramjis of tlie howels and violent colic. 

 This is best kept in check by carefully rubbing the patient dry when 

 he rises from the operation, and then leading him in hand for some 

 time. If the pain still persists a dose of laudanum (1 ounce for an 

 adult) may be given. 



BLEEDING AFTER CASTRATION. 



Bleeding from the wound in the scrotum and from the little artery 

 in the posterior portion of the spermatic cord always occurs, and in 

 warm weather may appear to be quite free. It scarcely ever lasts, 

 however, over fifteen minutes, and is easilj" checked by dashing cold 

 water against the part. 



Bleeding from the spermatic artery in the anterior part of the cord 

 may be dangerous when due precaution has not been taken to prevent 

 it. In such case the stump of the cord should be sought for and 

 the artery twisted with artery forceps or tied Avith a silk thread. 

 If the stump can not be found, pledgets of tow wet with tincture of 

 muriate of iron may be stuffed into the canal to favor the formation 

 of clot and the closure of the artery. 



STRANGULATED SPERMATIC CORD. 



If in castration the cord is left too long, so as to hang out of the 

 wound, the skin wound in contracting grasps and strangles it, pre- 

 venting the free return of blood and causing a steadily advancing 

 swelling. In addition the cord becomes adherent to the lips of the 

 wound in the skin, whence it derives an increased supply of blood, 

 and is thereby stimulated to more rapid swelling. The subject walks 

 stiffly, with straddling gait, loses appetite, and has a rapid pulse and 

 high fever. Examination of the wound discloses the partial closure 

 of the skin wound, and the protrusion from its lips of the end of the 

 cord, red, tense, and varying in size from a hazel-nut upward. If 

 there is no material swelling and little protrusion the wound may be 

 enlarged with the knife and the end of the cord broken loose from any 

 connection with the skin, and pushed up inside. If the swelling is 

 larger the mass constitutes a tumor, and must be removed. (See 

 below. ) 



SWELLING OF THE SHEATH, PENIS, AND ABDOMEN. 



This occurs in certain unhealthy states of the system, in unhealthy 

 seasons, as the result of operating without cleansing the sheath and 

 penis, or of keeping the subject in a filthy, impure building, as the 

 result of infecting the wound by hands or instruments bearing septic 

 bacteria, or as the-result of i^remature closure of the wound, and im- 

 prisonment of matter. 



