178 CASTRATION. 



little exercise, which he can then take, will assist the 

 escape of any pus, or other fluid, from the bag, and 

 will prevent both swelling and inflammation; but a 

 full allowance of oats and beans should be given. He 

 should even be made to walk about three or four 

 times daily; some digestive ointment having been 

 smeared over the wound to keep off the flies ; if the 

 operation should have been performed during the heat 

 of summer. 



Little attention is afterwards necessary. There 

 will sometimes be a considerable degree of swelling; 

 this perhaps extending beyond the scrotum, and along 

 the belly; but if, on the third day, there is a dis- 

 charge of healthy pus, there will be no cause for fear ; 

 as the swelling will gradually subside ; if, however, 

 there is no discharge of pus ; whether there be or be 

 not any swelling, it will be prudent to open the 

 wounds a little with the fingers, in order that the pus 

 which is pent up in the scrotum may escape. Should 

 much fever ensue after castration, and the colt begin 

 to be evidently ill, the peritoneum is probably in- 

 flamed ; for that membrane in the horse is continuous 

 with the internal covering of the scrotum. Warm 

 fomentations to the parts, with such measures as have 

 been* advised under the head of peritonitis, should be 

 resorted to. Very great swelling of the scrotum, 

 evidently containing fluid, is best treated with slight 

 scarifications and fomentations. 



A mode of castration by means of the clams has 

 been lately introduced; and somewhat extensively 

 practised. A dry branch of elder, or of some other 

 wood, is selected ; about an inch in diameter, and five 



