PREFACE 



This work is not intended for those unacquainted 

 with anatomy, restraint of animals, principles of sur- 

 gery and asepsis. It is assumed that the student is 

 familiar with anatomy, and no attempt at such in- 

 struction has been made. However, anatomy is treated 

 in sufficient detail for accurate description o/the tech- 

 nic pertaining to the various operations considered. 

 The reader's familiarity with the restraint of animals 

 being presupposed, tedious recital of modes of restraint 

 has been omitted; but the kind of restraint that will 

 best serve any given operation has been indicated. 

 Since a good working knowledge of the principles of 

 surgery and asepsis is necessary to comprehend the 

 text, frequent reminders that instruments should be 

 boiled and the operator's hands washed, have l)eeii 

 purposely avoided. The selection of instruments is a 

 matter of individual choice or custom, and, therefore, 

 naming the instruments required for each operation 

 described, has been intentionally omitted. 



This volume is a resume of observations made during 

 ten years' experience in the castration of animals. In 

 considering the technic of operations, where more than 

 one method is in vogue, the one that has proved the 

 most practicable has been described. 



The sections on equine umbilical hernia and cesarean 

 operation in the sow have been included because these 

 cases command much of the veterinarian's attention 

 during the season of castration. 



J. V. L. 



October, 1915. 



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