CASTRATION OF YOUNG PIGS. 



5 



side of it. (Fig. 3.) The incision should be deep enough to liberate 

 the testicle at one pass, and should also be long enough to free the 

 testicle and to insure good drainage; to do this it must go through 

 the scrotum and also through the sack that incloses the testicle. 

 (Fig. 4.) The membranous sac is allowed to go back and should 

 be cut loose at the inner part of the testicle so that the cords may be 

 pulled out and scraped, not cut, off. The scraping is done by holding 

 the knife in a slanting position and scraping back and forth until 

 the cord is severed. (Fig. 5.) The cord should never be cut off 

 abruptly, for to do so may cause a greater hemorrhage. Jerking out 



Fig. 3. — Making the incision. Fig. 4. — Thp testicle removed from the 



sac by one incision. 



the cord is also dangerous, as it may cause a rupture. The other 

 testicle is liberated in the same manner. (Fig. G.) It is not neces- 

 sary to sew up the wound, as it will heal more readily without inter- 

 ference. 



In hot weather it is advisable to rub some pine tar on the scrotum 

 to keep flies and other insects from the wound. Accidents following 

 castrations of pigs are rare, though abscesses are sometimes formed. 

 These are manifested by much swelling and soreness at the seat of 

 operation. Treatment consists in opening the abscess with a thor- 

 oughly clean knife and fingers, and wa>hing it out twice daily with 

 an antiseptic fluid. 



