650 OPEEATIONS. 



diseased condition, which fact might render the operation difficult, 

 or unsafe. The only special ill result to an old animal is that the 

 operation is apt to cause him to lose his spirit and pluck, and to 

 make him nervous or vicious. Operating under chloroform appears 

 to aid in preventing this untoward contingency from occurring. 



Colts intended for saddle and light harness work should be 

 castrated earlier than those destined for heavy draught, which 

 animals ought to be heavy in front, so as to be able to put weight 

 into the collar. 



A horse should be in good health and condition before being 

 " added to the list," and should be previously stinted of food for 

 five or six hours, so that he may not injure himself internally when 

 struggling. 



In order that the wound may not take on an unhealthy action, 

 it is well not to castrate during cold or damp weather. 



The operator should see that the surroundings are free from bad 

 odours or taint of any kind, and it is advisable for him, before 

 commencing, to disinfect his hands and instruments and the site 

 of operation (p. 70). He should abstain from operating if he has 

 recently been " calving " cows ; making a post-rnortem examina- 

 tion ; or if he has been brought into contact with decomposing 

 matter. These precautions are taken with special reference to 

 the prevention of tetanus and scirrhous cord. 



Before castrating a horse, he should be carefully examined for 

 hernia, the presence of which will permit only of the covered opera- 

 tion being performed. 



As a horse, during the time the sheath is swollen from the effects 

 of castration, may have difficulty in " drawing his yard " to stale ; 

 it is well before the operation and after the horse has been cast, 

 to insert one's hand into the sheath, clean it out with warm water, 

 and freely anoint the inside of the sheath and penis with vaseline 

 or sweet oil. 



METHODS OF CASTRATING.— Those in ordinary use are as 

 follows : — 



1. By the ecraseur (Fig. 113, p. 289). The animal should be 

 on his left side, so as to allow the operator freedom to use his right 

 hand. It is well to have a spare chain for the ecraseur. 



If hobbles are used, the horse should be thrown on his left side, 

 and his off hind leg should be drawn forward in the manner shown 

 in Fig. 163. The left testicle is taken in the left hand, and its 

 base is squeezed, between the thumb and finger, so as to tighten 

 the skin over it. If there be difficulty in catching hold of the 

 testicle, the right hand may be used to aid the left. French 

 veterinary surgeons advise that, in such a case, an assistant should 



