74 Animal Castration 



CHAPTER VI. 



SEQUELAE OF CASTRATION. 



Septic Infection — Contamination of the wound either during 

 operation or afterwards may result in Septicaemia, Pyaemia, 

 Peritonitis, Tetanus, Abscess, etc. 



Abscess of Scrotum and Inguinal Canal — This condition arises 

 as a consequence of septic infection associated with the skin inci- 

 sions adhering together too early after the operation. 



Treatment — Evacuation by lancing in such site and manner as 

 to afford free drainage. Followed by daily irrigation with any 

 reliable antiseptic solution is the extent of treatment. 



Tetanus ("Lock Jaw") is the most frequent sequelae of cas- 

 tration in the Southern States, and from all information at hand 

 I am inclined to believe that this sequelae is no less frequent in 

 other sections of the United States. 



Cause — We know that tetanus is caused by the Tetanus Bacillus 

 gaining access to the wound. This may take place either at time 

 of operation or later. Whenever a case of tetanus develops after 

 castration the owner will invariably censure the operator. How- 

 ever, experience has led me to conclude that the operator should 

 be held blameless in the great majority of instances. At least 

 ninety per cent of animals which develop tetanus after castration 

 contract the infection from lying down in manure and dirt, thus 

 contaminating the wound, after the actual operation has been 

 performed. In every castration operation there is a possibility 

 of post-operative infection. 



Period of Incubation — The period of incubation varies from 

 8 to 30 days. 



Symptoms — Stiffness and contraction of all the voluntary mus- 

 cles, more especially those of the tail and jaws. As a result of 

 this muscular stiffness the tail and head are protruded, the jaws 

 stiff — partial or complete — straddling and awkward gait. When 

 the head is raised the nictitating membrane ("haw") protrudes 

 over the eyeball. (See Fig. 52.) 



