CASTRATION. «0» 



animal's head to the left, or nigh side. The operator should hare a sharp castrating 

 knife, a pair of scissors, and, the most important instrument of all, the ecraseur (as 

 shown in Fig. 930), called Miles's Ecraseur. The operator should stand on the nigh 

 side, midway between the fore apd hind legs (say nothing to the horse), grasp the 

 scrotum gently in the left hand above the testicles, now with the knife held about 8 

 to 10 inches from the scrotum, make a slash into and through the coverings of the 

 testicles, cutting into them proper. While the cut is made with the fore fingers at 

 the back of the scrotum, raise the several coverings, and the testicles pop out. This 

 must be done quickly. Then step back, apply the chain of the ecraseure about an 

 inch above the testicle, and quickly tighten the chain. When a firm tortion is on the 

 chain, gradually tighten the same, when a peculiar grating sensation will be felt. 

 Do not cut clear through the cord with the chain. Then take your scissors and cut 

 below the chain, when the testicle will fall to the ground. ' Gradually loosen the 

 chain, which should require about half a minute, and repeat the same operation on 

 the second testicle. You will not have any bleeding, and the animal will stand per- 

 fectly quiet. 



This was at one time performed by a few men, who traveled through the coun- 

 try castrating, and who captivated the stock raisers by their clever way of operating, 

 and who look upon it as a secret, of which there is no such thing. The whole secret 

 lies in this: The testicles are endowed with a profuse plexus of nerves, and are a 

 highly sensitive organ. By making a sharp, quick incision in the testicle, the pain is 

 so intense that the animal becomes unnerved, and is under complete control of the 

 operator. In this lies the whole secret. In some cases, the stallion makes a few 

 sharp, quick kicks with one leg, but they are sc as not to get in close proximity with 

 the operator, being straight out behind. There is no danger to either the operator. 

 or the horse.' Nothing is applied to the wounded part, which is to be left alone ; 

 a slight swelling will be visible for a few days, which is natural, and must be to pro- 

 duce a healing of the parts. The percentage Of loss is 'very slight, and only then 

 due to complications, such as colds, etc. I have never yet seen an animal die from 

 being operated upon by this method. 



The Old Method, 



as practiced by an old man named Gould, who resides near 

 Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y- He is known in that and surrounding 

 counties for his success in castrating horses, claiming to have never 

 lost a case, and that there was but little swelling after the opera- 

 tion. The writer took particular pains to see the old man operate, 

 and learn his secret. 



The horse was laid down, and tjed in the usual manner. He 

 washed the parts thoroughly with warm water, and then greased 

 them with lard. The clamps were of the usual, kind. It was the 

 preparation he put on the clamps that made his success, he said. 



He put on the clamp, first, rye flour paste ; on this he sifted 

 equal portions of red precipitate and corrosive sublimate, mixed to- 

 gether in powder. In twenty-four hours the clamps were taken off". 

 This method of treatment has been pursued for many years by a 

 friend of the author, and he claims, with unfailing success, never 

 having lost a case, and it is followed by no appreciable swelling. 



