SURGERY AND OBSTETRICS 349 



should be prevented. Small pigs rarely bleed sufficiently after cas- 

 tration to cause any concern. In ease of severe hemorrhage as a se- 

 quel of castration it is necessary to restrain the animal and ligate the 

 end of the cord or pack the scrotum and close the operative wounds 



by sutures. Packing in such cases should be removed in twenty-four 

 hours. 



Scirrhous Cord 



Scirrhous cord has been relatively common in swine because of the 

 failure to properly care for recently castrated swine and because of 

 carelessness in castration. 



This condition is manifested by an enlargement or tumefaction in 

 the castration wound. The tumefactions vary in size and appear- 

 ance. In some instances there are fistulous tracts and there may be a 

 discharge. 



Etiology. — The castration wounds are subject to a variety of infec- 

 tion because of their location and the nature and habit of swine. 

 Various pyogenic bacteria gain entrance into the castration wound, 

 and should the incisions be small and the wound margins closed by 

 the inflammatory swelling an abscess may develop, the size of which 

 will depend upon the tissue resistance. Scrotal abscesses in castra- 

 tion wounds are not serious if properly opened, drained, and cared 

 for, but if the pus is allowed to accumulate it may infiltrate the sur- 

 rounding tissues or, more probably, pass along the vas deferens, and 

 ultimately enter the pelvic cavity and establish peritonitis. 



The colon bacillus may also infect castration wounds and produce 

 either suppurative or septic inflammation. In a few instances several 

 pigs have been observed affected with septic disturbances resulting 

 from colon infection in castration wounds. The lesions observed in 

 septic infection consist of gaseous tumefactions containing inflamma- 

 tory products. These cases usually terminate fatally, unless treatment 

 is begun early. The treatment consists of opening the castration 

 wounds, removing the necrotic tissue with a curette, and freely apply- 

 ing efficient germicidal agents. 



The Bacillus necrophorus occasionally gains entrance to the castra- 

 tion wounds, but the successful infection by these germs is usually in 

 the later stages of the healing process. The Bacillus necrophorus is 

 anaerobic and probably is continuously eliminated in the feces. The 

 lesions produced. by this organism consist of a slow-going necrosis, the 

 necrotic foci being surrounded by an inflammatory zone. A peculiar, 

 offensive odor emanates from the lesions. The necrotic areas may 



