414 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



'■< scrotum on either side of the median line. The testicle 

 being protruded, a thread or silk ligature is placed round 

 the spermatic cord about an inch above the testicle, and 

 the latter is then removed a little below the ligature with a 

 scalpel or sharp scissors. Other methods are adopted, as 



\ torsion, scraping, or the hot iron. An aperient, and warm 

 fomentations, are generally all that is necessary in the after- 

 treatment 



SPAYING. 

 i Spaying, or removal of the ovaries of the bitch, is now 

 j almost unheard of, and I trust the time is not far distant 

 when it will be discontinued in other animals. The opera- 

 tion is both inhuman and useless. I am thankful to say I 

 have never seen it performed in canine practice, and will 

 therefore quote from another authority. Youatt observes : 

 " In performing this operation an opening is made into 

 the flank on one side, and the finger introduced ; one of 

 the ovaries is laid hold of and drawn a little out of the 

 belly J a ligature is then applied round it, just above the 

 bifurcation of the womb, and it is cut through, the end of 

 the ligature being left hanging out of the wound. The 

 other ovary is' then felt for and drawn out, and excised and 

 secured by a ligature. The wound is then sewed up, and 

 ' a bandage is placed over the incision. Some farriers do 

 not apply any ligature, but simply sew up the wound, and 

 in the majority of cases the edges adhere, and no harm 

 comes of the operation, except that the general character 

 of the animal is essentially changed. She accumulates a 

 vast quantity of fat, becomes listless and idle, and is almost 

 invariably short-lived. 



The female dog, therefore, should always be allowed to 

 breed. Breeding is a necessary process, and the female 

 prevented from it is sure to be affected with disease sooner 

 or later ; enormous collections and indurations will form, 

 that will inevitably terminate in scirrhus or ulceration." * 



• Youatt : "The Dog," p. 225. 



