CASTRATION OF THE STALLION 1;! 



^tyc— Stallions may be safely castrated at any age pi'ovidecl they are 

 in good physical condition. 



-SVr^so((— Spring and early fall are the seasons of choice, but the opera- 

 tion may be performed at any time by taking- the necessary precautions to 

 protect the animal from tlies, inclement weather etc. 



Fig. 2— Williams' all-metal, stiff handle castrating knife. 



Preparation—The intestinal tract should be practically empty at the 

 tune of castration. This is attained by withholding food for twenty-four 

 hours before operating. By heeding the above admonition the danger 

 of rupturing internal viscera during the operation and of colic afterward, 

 will be much lessened. 



CASTRATING IN THE RECUMBENT P(JSTURE 



Ttestraint — When it has been decided to cast the animal, one should, 

 first of all, carefully survey the surroundings and select the most satisfac- 

 tory location. Of course circumstances and existing conditions play an 



Fig. 3 — A perfectly made emascu- Fig. 4 — An imperfectly made and badly 

 lator of good design. designed emasculator. 



important role in making a selection. AA'hen the weatlier will permit, 

 there is no place better adapted to the operation than an open tield or 

 lawn. There one has ample room to manipulate the restraint technic with- 

 out interruption. When the location has been selected, the ne.xt problem 

 is the casting bed. The ideal operating mat or mattress is a plot of green 

 grass upon smooth ground. Always avoid the manure heap or the rotten 

 straw pile whenever possible. They are both hotbeds of all forms of bac- 

 terial growth and are directly responsible for many cases of fatal septic 

 infection. If one is forced to cast an animal indoors, one must make the 



