SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 44h 
When a full-grown horse is operated on, some further prepa- 
ration is necessary. He should not be in a state of debility, and, 
certainly, not in one of plethora. In the latter case, lower his diet; 
and it would be prudent to give him a purgative. It is also ad- 
visable that it be done when no influenza or strangles rage, as we 
have found the effects of castration render a horse very obnoxious 
to any prevalent disease. The advanced spring season—previous, 
howe'er, to the flies becoming troublesome—is the proper time for 
the performance of the operation upon all valuable horses; and 
be careful that it be not done until after the winter coat has been 
shed, which will have a favorable effect on the future coating of 
the horse, independent of the circumstance that at a period of 
change the constitution is not favorable to anusual excitement. 
Castration is performed in various ways, but in all it expresses 
the removal of the testicles. There are methods of rendering the 
animal impotent without the actual destruction of these organs}; 
for if, by any other method, the secretion of the spermatic glands 
is prevented, our end is answered. 
Castration by cauterization is the method which has been prin- 
c'pally practiced among us; but this by no means proves it the 
best. On the contrary, many of our most expert veterinarians 
do not castsate by this method. Mr, Goodwin, and many other 
practitioners of eminence, never castrate by cautery. 
A preliminary observation should be made previously to casting, 
to see that the horse is not suffering from a rupture. Such cases 
have happened; and as in our method we open a direct commu- 
nication with the abdomen, when the horse rises it is not improb- 
able that his bowels protrude until they trail on the ground, 
Hernia, as a consequence of castration, may easily occur by the 
uncovered operation ; for, as already observed, it makes the scrotal 
sac and abdominal cavity one continuous opening. It is not te 
Nie wondered at, therefore, if the violent struggles of the animal 
should force a quantity of intestine through the rings into the 
scr tal bag. Should we be called on to operate on a horse which 
already had hernia, it is evident we ought not to proceed with it 
unless the owner be apprised of the risk, and willing to abide by 
it. In such cases, we would recommend that the method of Girard 
be practiced; that is, to inclose the tunica vaginalis within the 
clams, (sufficiently tight to retain them, but not to produce deatk 
in the part,) pushed bigh up against the abdowinal ring, and then 
