82 Animal Castration 



sheath and scrotum subsides the penis assumes its normal posi- 

 tion in the sheath. 



Treatment — The first essential is to support the pendulent penis, 

 as its great weight and position are unfavorable for absorption 

 of the fluid and reduction of the swelling. Bathe the swollen 

 parts with plenty of warm water to which has been added sugar 

 of lead (plumbii acetate) in the strength of one ounce to each 

 gallon of water. With a properly constructed suspensory a warm 

 pack saturated with the above solution may be kept applied to 

 the parts. 



Schirrous Cord or Chronic Funiculitis (Champignon) — Is an 

 enlarging and hardening of the stump of the spermatic cord. It 

 sometimes reaches enormous proportions, sufficiently large in 

 some instances to fill and distend the whole inguinal canal and 

 groin. In long standing chronic cases the cord is surrounded 

 by dense adhesions. A genuine schirrous cord never reduces in 

 size spontaneously, but has a tendency to grow larger and be- 

 come harder. 



Cause — There are two principle reasons for this sequelae of 

 castration : 



1. Operator leaving stump of cord sufficiently long to be 

 caught between lips of scrotal incisions during the healing process. 

 This, of course, strangulates the cord and causes it to enlarge 

 and harden. 



2. Infection either actinomycotic, streptococcic, or botryomy- 

 cotic. This accounts for the constant pus discharge and numerous 

 abscesses which make their appearance from time to time. Either 

 ignorance or carelessness on the part of operator is responsible 

 for this unappreciated condition. B} r removing enough cord and 

 practicing cleanliness at the outset schirrous cord would be to a 

 large degree eliminated. The development of schirrous cords was 

 largely reduced when the emasculator superceded the old-style 

 clamp method of operating. 



Treatment — In the acute stage of development — which means 

 two to six weeks after castration — the scrotal region should be 

 frequently cleansed by washing. The scrotal wound itself should 

 be painted once every two days with tincture iodine. During this 

 period it is well to give iodide potash in 4-drachm doses once a day. 



