SU ANIIMAL CASTRATKJxN 



point, usually chosen for the application of the liga- 

 ture. 



Treatment. — The method of correcting this condi- 

 tion is essentially surgical, and affected subjects 

 should be cared for when about a month old. It is 

 possible to defer the handling of such cases initil the 

 animals weigh from 60 to 75 pounds, but it is more 

 desirable in every way to operate on suckling pigs 

 while they are very young. 



Preoperative preparation consists of withholding all 

 dii't from 12 to 24 hours. They should be kept in 

 clean quarters to render more nearly possible a thor- 

 ough cleansing of the surgical field. 



Anesthesia. — No anesthesia is ordinarily employed 

 ill. the i)erfonnance of this operation, although the 

 administration per rectum of a solution of fifteen 

 i;i'ains of chloral hydrate dissolved in an ounce of 

 water, twenty minutes before operating, is advisable. 

 This will produce sufficient depression to minimize 

 pain and greatly lessen struggling and resistance. 



Restraint. — "When subjects weigh 25 pounds or less, 

 they may be confined by hanging them over a parti- 

 tion or board fence by means of cords or straps at- 

 tached to the hind legs, with the animal's belly pre- 

 sented toward the operator. Larger animals may be 

 restrained upon an improvised table or door, tilted 

 at an angle of about 45 degrees, allowing the head to 

 hang lowermost, thus favoring gravitation of the vis- 

 cera toward the diaphragm. This position is more 

 comfortable for the heavier animals and also adds to 

 the convenience for the execution of the technic. 



Technic. — In eases of intra-vcujiiial hernia where 

 the amount of intestine protruding is not great, and 



