70 ANIMAL CASTKATION 



without obstruction of the inferior inguinal region. 

 This accident is characterized by the symptoms which 

 attend all cases of internal hemorrhage, such as an 

 acceleration of the heart, weak pulse, unsteady gait, 

 paleness of visible mucosa*, muscular tremors, and 

 finally labored breathing, collapse and death of the 

 subject. Treatment generally proves futile in cases 

 where profuse hemorrhage exists, but in some in- 

 stances, such agents as atropin, which decrease vascu- 

 lar constriction, may be of service ; the intravenous 

 injection of normal saline solution in moderate quan- 

 tities, is also beneficial in some cases. Animals so af- 

 fected should be kept quiet and unnecessary disturb- 

 ance avoided. 



Infection of the Wound. — While bovine subjects 

 seemingly are very resistant to ordinary infection, yet 

 post-operative infections do occasionally occur, due in 

 part to the inertia following the shock of the opera- 

 tion of castration. This inactivity enhances post-oper- 

 ative swelling and edema, which make for the retention 

 of wound secretions and coagulated blood. In the 

 course of two ot' three days under these adverse condi- 

 tions, infection takes place and the subject manifests 

 evidence of intoxication from the absorption of prod- 

 ucts of bacterial activity thus incited. 



AVhere bulls are castrated in cold weather under 

 unfavorable conditions, and not provided with proper 

 shelter, this element of cold combined with the ani- 

 mal's marked disinclination to exercise after the oper- 

 ation, does not conduce to increase the powers of resist- 

 ance, but favors serious infectious disturbances, and 

 losses on this account occur. 



Symptoms. — Symptoms of post-operative infection 

 consist in the general inclination of the animal to seek 



