26 



ANIMAL CASTRATIDN 



1. TluU the animal is not of a disposition ov temperament tlnit -wmiUl 

 contra-inilieate operating- in tlie standing- posture. ; 



2. That tlie testieh^ is aetmdly in the scrotum. i, 



3. That no liernia is present. 



4. That the animal is not aft'eeted with sueh local diseases of the scro- 

 tum, testicle or cord as would contra-indicate the o)3eration. 



Fig. 17 — Robinson's knife. 



."). That he is not suffering from any s]iecilic constitutional disease 

 \\ hicji would cause tlie ojieration of castration by any method to hazard 

 his life. 



(i. That you have a dependable — preferal)ly an experienced — assistant 

 in chai'ge of the twitcli, and be sure the twit<'h is a good one. 



Sterilizatiuii of I iistnniirnts and ('lea iisiufj Operator's H<in<h — Se? pager; 

 20, 21. 



Preparation of Patient — At first thought it would be e^^nsiclered proper 

 to disiiifect the field of operation by washing with one of the many excel- 

 lent antiseptic prejaarations. However, experience and close observation 



Fig. IS — WiUiams' castrating knife (modified). 



lead me to state that the advisability and practicability of undertaking 

 the disinfection of tlie field of operation at this particular juncture — after 

 the twitch is applied — is, to say the least, debatable. Aseptic or even anti- 

 septic surgery would suggest it, but the author is willing to chance run- 

 ning tlie gauntlet of criticism by going on record as opposing disinfection 

 of the operative field. His only reason for so doing is sim])ly because of 

 Ihe facl tliat if a man is to do a satisfactorj' and successful operation wdth 

 the arjimal in the standing posture, it is imperative that the operation be- 

 gin as soon as tlic twitch is applied and end at the earliest possible moment, 



