CHAPTER XVn. 



VBTKBENABY SUBG^Y. 



I. CA«nunoK.^— n. sLKiDtsG. m. trachiotokt. rv. pxRioanoTOirr.— v. xsxv 



KOTOirr. VI. DrvTSiON op the TXirooys. 



Genkral Remarks on Suegeet. — Every person who has the care of 

 farm stock, or who has the care of horses, should understand some of 

 the simpler means used in veterinary surgery. The castration of animals, 

 for instance, is exceedingly easy and safe if a few simple rules are ob- 

 served. If done in a bungling or improper manner, the chances, except 

 in the case of very young animals, are against recover^'. Bleeding is 

 sometimes absolutely necessary to save life. When necessary it should 

 be promptly performed. Tracheotomy also, as cutting into the windpipe 

 is called, must sometimes be performed before a surgeon could possibly 

 reach the animal. Periosteotomy, as operating upon the membrane of the 

 bones of the leg is called, had better be left to the veterinary surgeon 

 entirely; so again, neurotomy, the division of the nerve which supplies 

 the hoof of the fore leg with sensation, had also better be left to the 

 surgeon. In all division of tendons, fractured limbs and various disabil- 

 ities to which animals are subject, ever}' horseman ought to know what 

 to do. The diseases of animals have been pretty thoroughly treated of 

 in this work. Some of the operations of surgery must therefore receive 

 the attention their importance deserves. 



I. Castration. 



Calves, lambs and pigs should be castrated when quite young, always 

 before the sixth week of their life. Lambs and pigs should be castrated 

 at from one to two weeks old. Colts are not usually castrated until one 

 year old, smce thus they retain more of the natural \igor and style of 

 the entire horse. 

 486 



