144 



to except in animals that become nnraanngeable on the recurrence of 

 heat, and that will not breed or that are utterly unsuited to breeding. 

 Formerly the operation was extensivelj' practiced in Europe, the incision 

 being made through the flank, and a large proportion of the subjects 

 perishing. By operating through the \agina the risk can be largely 

 obviated, as the danger of unhealthy inflammation in the wound is 

 greatly lessened. The animal should be fixed in a trevis, with each foot 

 fixed to a post and a sling placed under the body, or, better, it may be 

 thrown and put under chloroform. The manual operation demands 

 special professional knowledge and skill, but it consists essentially in 

 making an opening through thereof of the vagina just above the neck 

 of the womb, then following with the hand each horn of the womb 

 until the ovary on that side is reached and grasped between the lips of 

 forceps and twisted off. It might be torn off by an ecraseur especially 

 constructed for the purpose. The straining that follows the operation 

 may be checked by ounce doses of laudanum, and any risk of protru- 

 sion of the bowels may be obviated by applying the truss advised to 

 l^reveut eversiou of the womb. To further prevent the i^ressure of 

 the abdominal contents against the vaginal wound the mare should 

 be tied short and high for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, after which 

 I have found it best to remove the truss and allow the privilege of 

 lying down. Another important i^oint is to give bran mashes and 

 other laxative diet only, and in moderate quantity, for a fortnight, and 

 to unload the rectum by copious injections of w^arm water in case it 

 should threaten to become impacted. 



STERILITY. 



sterility may be in the male or in the female. If due to the stallion, 

 then all the mares put to him remain barren; if due to the mare, she 

 alone fails to conceive. 



In the stallion sterility may be due to the following causes : {a) Im- 

 perfect development of the testicles, as in cases in which they are re- 

 tained within the abdomen: (b) inflammation of the testicles, resulting 

 in induration ; (c) fatty degeneration of the testicles, in stallions lib- 

 erally fed on starchy food and not sufticiently exercised; {d) fatty 

 degeneration of the excretory ducts of the testicles {vasa deferent ia) '^ 

 (e) inflammation or ulceration of these ducts; (/) inflammation or ulcer- 

 ation of the mucous membrane covering the penis; (g) injuries to the 

 penis from blows (often causing paralysis) ; {h) warty growths on the 

 end of the penis; (i) tumors of other kinds (largely pigmentary) af- 

 fecting the testicles or penis; (j) nervous diseases which abolish the 

 sexual appetite, or that control over the muscles which is essential to 

 the act of coition; {k) azoturia with resulting weakness or paralysis 

 of the muscles of the loins or the front of the thigh (above the stifle); 

 (Z) ossification (anchylosis) of the joints of the back or loins, which 

 renders the animal unable to rear or mount; (m) spavins, ringbones, 



