1^ ANIJIAL CASTRATION 



spirits of ]iitre one ouiict', in capsules, at two-liour intervals. Aji aloes 

 purj^e is sometimes beuetieial. If the ease is a uiild one and tlie animal can 

 stand on its feet it is advisable to tie the head np to prevent lying down. 



POST-OPERATIVE HEJIOERIiAGE — (a) PRUIARY AND (1)) SECONDARY 



(a) I'll' mar ij Ileinorrhage — May ensue immediately after the operation 

 from failure of the emasculator to close the spermatic artery or from the 

 scrotal plexus of veins being severed with the point of the knife at the time 

 the incision is made. 



Treatmeni — Only in extremely rare instances is it necessary to artificially 

 control liemorrhage of this source and character. Nature will, as a ride, 

 relieve the surgeon of such responsibility, provided he will be patient for 

 20'to 80 minutes and allow her time to do it. It is more often necessary 

 to treat the owner while his animal is bleeding than it is to treat the ani- 

 mal itself. In a quarter of a century's experience, during which more 

 than 14-,000 stallions, colts and mules were castrated, not a single animal 

 died as a result of primary hemorrhage, and not a single cord was ligated 

 noi' a scrotum packed. If a i^roperly constructed emasculator is used, im- 

 pose the utmost confidence in it, and do not become undul}' alarmed every 

 time a stallion or colt bleeds freel.y for a few minutes after castration. Re- 

 member tliat it is impossible with the emasculator to do a bloodless oper- 

 ation. If you are expecting a bloodless job you will as a nde be disap- 

 pointed except in extremely anemic colts. If you are afraid of hemorrhage, 

 remember that tlie only method of operation in which you do not get more 

 or less l)lood is the antiquated ligature, clamp and cautery. If a stallion 

 bleeds freely after castration, the best way to proceed is to jilace him in a 

 box stall, sluit tlie door and go with the owner to dinner. After dinner 

 take a leisurely smoke with the owner — this usually consumes about an 

 hour's time — after which examine the patient and you will find that nature 

 has come to your rescue and the hemorrhage has ceased. 



(1)) Sccondarij Hemorrhage — This form of hemorrhage invariably en- 

 sues fi-om tlie spermatic artery and contrary to primary hemorrhage is dan- 

 gcous, and may result in the death of the ajiimal mdess controlled, 

 it usually occm's from one to six hours after castration; however, it some- 

 times occurs several days after the operation. liemorrhage of this char- 

 acter is usually caused by a diseased condition of the arteries (liemophilia), 

 increased heart action, sloughing of the spermatic cord, etc. Tlie blood 

 comes in spurts directly from the artery in a good sized stream. 



Treatment — Nature cannot be depended upon to control this class of 

 liemorrhage. Sometimes it is possible to apply hemostatic forceps to the 

 mouth of the bleeding vessel. When this cannot be done with the animal 

 in the standing |)osture, cast and secure the patient in a dorsal ])osition, 



