CASTRATION AND SPAYING 239 



the_ characteristic coarseness of the stallion. In the rumi- 

 nating, meat-producing species the operation is performed 

 not only to forestall the sexual impulse that renders unprof- 

 itable the cohabitation of males and females, but especially 

 to improve the excellency of their meat products; and by 

 facilitating fattening it yields a handsome salvage in the cost 

 of feeding for the market. In the porcine species the addi- 

 tional object is chiefly to prevent the harmful molestation 

 and wholesale impregnation of the young sows. In the ca- 

 nine and feline species, the principal reason for castration is 

 to forestall the inclination to roam about in search of con- 

 senting females, which habit, besides exposing them to seri- 

 ous contagions, renders them undesirable for household 

 companions. The castrated pet grows large and fat, cares- 

 sant, docile and obedient, and although somewhat more in- 

 dolent, it is never involved in obscene manoeuvers. 



In cocks caponizing is practiced solely to increase the 

 profits of the chicken industry. The caponized rooster grows 

 fat and large, and yields meat of exceptional excellence that 

 is salable at a much higher price than that of the entire cock. 

 But on account of the small economic importance of each in- 

 dividual operation, the caponizing of cocks is destined to be 

 practiced more extensively by the fancier than by the veteri- 

 nary practitioner. 



The testicles must sometimes be sacrificed' on account 

 of disease. Tumors and hernias are the commonest abnor- 

 malities of this category. A tumor of the scrotum whose 

 ablation would expose the testicle is best managed by re- 

 moving the latter instead of attempting the futile step of 

 reconstructing the scrotum over it, and when tumors or any 

 other serious pathologic process (tuberculosis, glanders, 

 etc.) attacks the testicles themselves their sacrifice is always 

 advisable, as it is never profitable to conserve diseased tes- 

 ticles in animals. In the surgical treatment of bubonoceles 

 and oscheoceles, castration is generally one of the steps of 

 the technique, as the radical kelotomies with conservation of 

 the testicles can indeed very seldom ever be successfully 

 carried out in the larger species. 



In orchitis of aged animals with prevailing impotence 

 castration may often be performed to the benefit of the gen- 

 eral health, and in habitual onanism, so rampant amongst 

 race horses, where the vitality is threatened or has waned 

 under the influence of frequent ejaculations, the operation 

 is often urgently required to retain or to restore a vigorous 

 constitution.- 



