CASTRATION OF THE GAT 123 



be made as comfortable as possible with respect to 

 temperature, and all excitement should be avoided. 

 It is best to offer them a tempting form of nourish- 

 ment such as nutritive liquid food, — broths or milk — 

 or a little salmon or raw hamburger steak in small 

 quantities. A solid regimen is to be guarded against. 

 As mentioned heretofore for preoperative preparation, 

 provision should be made for the encouragement of 

 urination and defecation by placing within their reach 

 a pan of sawdust or clean sand. 



Sequelae 



Shock. — In singular instances, shock occurs and is 

 manifested by muscular tremors, acceleration of the 

 pulse and irregular respiration, but such disturbance 

 is not likely to attend an ordinary spaying operation. 

 To alleviate this condition, applications of external 

 heat and the subcutaneous administration of 1-500 

 grain each of atropin sulphate and strychnin sulphate 

 will be found beneficial. 



Constipation. — Following any major operation, cats 

 are prone to l)eeome constipated because of the in- 

 activity due to their natural timidity. Obstinate con- 

 stipation following laparotomy is often accompanied 

 by wound infection and subcuticular necrosis some- 

 times involving extensive areas, and in some cases 

 there occurs sloughing of lai'ge pieces of skin. A 

 daily examination of the wound should be made to 

 detect early signs of pus and infection, and it shoidd 

 Ix' e\'acuated suT'gically before extensive destruction 

 of tissue results. The injection of hydi'ogen peroxide 

 or solutions of chinosol 1 to 5000, in the wound, is in- 

 dicated in these cases. 



