170 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
guinal ring or through an artificial opening made in front and above 
that channel between the abdominal muscles and the strong fascia on 
the inner side of the thigh (Poupart’s figament). Whatever method 
is used, the skin, hands, and instruments should be rendered aseptic: 
with a solution of mercuric chlorid 1 part, water 2,000 parts (a car-: 
bolic-acid lotion for the instruments), and the spermatic cord is best 
torn through by the écraseur. In many such cases, too, it is desirable: 
to sew up the external wound and keep the animal still, to favor heal- 
ing of the wound by adhesion. 
CONDITIONS FOLLOWING CASTRATION. 
Pain after castration.—Some horses are pained and very restless 
for several hours after castration, and this may extend to cramps of 
the bowels and violent colic. This is best kept in check by carefully 
rubbing the patient dry when he rises from the operation, and then 
leading him in hand for some time. If the pain still persists a 
dose of laudanum (1 ounce for an adult) may be given. 
Bleeding after castration—Bleeding from the wound in the scro- 
tum and from the little artery in the posterior portion of the sper- 
matic cord always occurs, and in warm weather may appear to be 
quite free. It scarcely ever lasts, however, more than 15 minutes, 
and is easily checked by dashing cold water against the part. 
Bleeding from the spermatic artery in the anterior part of the cord 
may be dangerous when due precaution has not been taken to prevent 
it. In such case the stump of the cord should be sought for and 
the artery twisted with artery forceps or tied with a silk thread. 
If the stump can not be found, pledgets of tow wet with tincture of 
muriate of iron may be stuffed into the canal to favor the formation 
of clot and the closure of the artery. 
Strangulated spermatic cord—If in castration the cord is left 
too long, so as to hang out of the wound, the skin wound in con- 
tracting grasps and strangles it, preventing the free return of blood 
and causing a steadily advancing swelling. In addition the cord 
becomes adherent to the lips of the wound in the skin, whence it 
derives an increased supply of blood, and is thereby stimulated to 
more rapid swelling. The subject walks stiffly, with a straddling gait, 
loses appetite, and has a rapid pulse and high fever. Examina- 
tion of the wound discloses the partial closure of the skin wound and 
the protrusion, from its lips, of the end of the cord, red, tense, and 
varying in size from a hazelnut upward. If there isno material swell- 
and little protrusion, the wound may be enlarged with the knife and 
the end of the cord broken loose from any connection with the skin 
and pushed up inside. If the swelling is larger, the mass constitutes 
a tumor and must be removed. (See below.) 
