168 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
be invigorated by nourishing diet, while 30-grain doses of nux vomica 
are given twice a day. Finally, a weak current of electricity sent 
through the penis from just beneath the anus to the free portion of 
the penis, continued for 10 or 15 minutes and repeated daily, may 
prove successful. 
SELF-ABUSE, OR MASTURBATION. 
Some stallions acquire this vicious habit, stimulating the sexual 
instinct to the discharge of semen by rubbing the penis against the 
belly or between the fore limbs. The only remedy is a mechanical 
one, the fixing of a net under the penis in such fashion as to prevent 
the extension of the penis or so prick the organ as to compel the 
animal to desist through pain. 
DOURINE. 
This disease is discussed in the chapter on “ Infectious Diseases.” 
CASTRATION. 
CASTRATION OF STALLIONS. 
This is usually done at 1 year old, but may be accomplished at a 
few weeks old at the expense of an imperfect development of the 
fore parts. The simplicity and safety of the operation are greatest 
in the young. The delay till 2, 3, or 4 years old will secure 
a better development and carriage of the fore parts. The essential 
part of castration is the safe removal or destruction of the testicle 
and the arrest or prevention of bleeding from the spermatic artery 
found in the anterior part of the cord. Into the many methods of 
accomplishing this limited space forbids us to enter here, so that only 
the method most commonly adopted, castration by clamps, will be 
noticed. The animal having been thrown on his left side, and the 
right hind foot drawn up on the shoulder, the exposed scrotum, 
penis, and sheath are washed with soap and water, any concretion of 
sebum being carefully removed from the bilocular cavity in the end 
of the penis. The left spermatic cord, just above the testicle, is now 
seized in the left hand, so as to render the skin tense over the stone, 
and the right hand, armed with the knife, makes an incision from 
before backward, about three-fourths of an inch from and parallel to 
the median line between the thighs, deep enough to expose the testicle 
and long enough to allow that organ to start out through the skin. 
At the moment of making this incision the left hand must grasp the 
cord very firmly, otherwise the sudden retraction of the testicle by 
the cremaster muscle may draw it out of the hand and upward 
through the canal and even into the abdomen. In a few seconds, 
