654 OPERATIONS. 



If, after the operation, excessive bleeding takes jolace, treat as 

 directed on p. 114. 



3. BY TWISTING (TORSION). After the clam has been ap- 

 plied, and after the non-vascular (the posterior) portion of the cord 

 has been divided with a knife, the testicle is simply twisted off 

 by means of a torsion forceps (Fig. 44, p. 124), which is specially 

 made for the purpose. If the operator be unprovided with this 

 instrument, he can catch hold of the uncovered testicle with his 

 hand, and twist it round and round, until the surrounding tissues, 

 cord and vessels, gradually give way. It is well to divide the nerve 

 before applying the torsion forceps, so as to sav© the animal from 

 prolonged pain, if he is not under the influence of chloroform. 



The great advantage of the torsion method, which is the one 

 I prefer, is that it obviates nearly all possibility of bleeding, 

 which frequently follows castration by the hot iron and ecraseur, 

 and is naturally alarming to an inexperienced operator. 



The question of tetanus or scirrhous cord being more liable to 

 follow castration by one method than that by another, is entirely 

 one of cleanliness during the operation, and of antiseptic treatment 

 (p. 67 et seq.) after it. 



4. THE COVERED OPERATION, which should be adopted only 

 when hernia is present, may be performed in the manner which 

 Professor W. Williams recommends, by including the scrotum and 

 its contents in a strong wooden clam as close as possible to the belly, 

 and letting it remain on until the testicle sloughs off; or we may 

 remove it with the knife after a couple of days. 



It is good practice to keep oolts under cover for ten days after 

 castration. The scrotum should be bathed on the third day with 

 warm water, to which a suitable antiseptic (p. 67) had been added, 

 and the womid should be opened up with the finger to allow free 

 escape to any discharge. It is not necessary to do this more than 

 once, unless the scrotum and sheath are very much swollen, when 

 it may have to be repeated. If the animal is kept in a stable, he 

 should have a bed of clean straw to lie on, and not one of peat moss, 

 which is apt to harbour disease germs, such as those of scirrhous 

 cord. A liberal supply of soft diet, residence in a clean, airy box, 

 and judicious exercise greatly facilitate recovery. Horses living 

 in the open can be safely turned out immediately after the operation. 

 Casualties on account of this practice are rare. 



In districts where tetanus is common, it would, if practicable, be 

 well to render recently castrated horses immune to this disease by 

 protective inoculation (p. 530). 



