I08 . DISEASES OF SWINE 



COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION 



Castration of the male is not free from complica- 

 tions. These are hemorrhage from the blood vessels 

 in the cord, rupture, abscesses and fibrous tumors. 

 Peritonitis seldom occurs from this cause. 



Hemorrhage is not a dangerous complication in 

 young hogs, as the blood vessels in the cord are so 

 small that they soon become closed by a clot. There 

 may be considerable bleeding from the incision in the 

 scrotum, if the pigs become warmed up in catching 

 them, but this is never dangerous. In old hogs the 

 blood vessels in the cord are larger, and a serious 

 hemorrhage may occur if the cut ends of the vessels 

 are not crushed sufficiently to close them and hasten 

 the formation of a clot. As well as endangering the 

 animal's life, bleeding ma)- weaken and check the 

 growth of the pig. 



Bleeding from the cord can be stopped best by tak- 

 ing up the stump end and ligating it. Another 

 method is to pack the scrotum with absorbent cotton 

 and sew up the incision in its walls. The cotton 

 should not be removed for about twenty-four hours, 

 as > it takes fully this long for a clot to form and the 

 danger from bleeding to be over. 



Hernia rarely occurs as a complication of castra- 

 tion. When it does, it is due to a roomy inguinal 

 caijal, or to injuring the animal while handling it. 

 The operator should be prepared to meet this condi- 

 tion whether it occurs as a result of castration, or is 

 present at the time the operation is performed. The 



