CASTRATION BY THE CLAMS. 
97 
To operate, the horse having’ been duly prepared, as, of 
course, presumed, is thrown in the usual way, and on his near 
side. Prop him somewhat on his back with a truss; carry his 
off-hind leg well forward on his shoulder, and secure it; and, 
plenty of water being at hand, let an assistant draw out the 
penis, and sponge it, the sheath, and around the scrotum. I 
would ever do so; for, even in a surgical point of view, the 
cleanliness cannot be undesirable. Having your clams ready, 
one end firmly tied, the other open, hand them to your assistant, 
with the other pieces of whipcord, your knife or scalpel, 
tongs, and a pair of narrow-bladed scissars. Place yourself at 
the horse’s croup, leaning over his quarter, and, taking the near 
or under testicle in your hand, dissect through its coverings, as 
usual. When the testicle springs out, put your knife aside, 
and, grasping it in your right hand, pull gently on the cord, 
while you clear the latter with your left, sufficiently high up to 
put the clam on. You pass the open end of the clam on the 
cord, from before backwards, and your assistant grasps it with 
the tongs, and gradually compresses it with them, till, with one 
of the loops of whipcord you have tied it, and sufficiently tight. 
Proceed similarly w ith the other testicle; and, having examined 
that none of the coverings of either have been included in the 
gripe of the clams, about half an inch from their low er edge cut 
the testicles off. Wash the parts well with plenty of water; 
then, letting the animal up, order him to be walked for half an 
hour quietly; the same in the evening; and that during the day 
water be frequently gently dashed on the parts, and the flies 
kept from fretting him. On the following day throw him (or 
better w ithout throwing him), and, cutting through the whip¬ 
cord fastening one end of either clam, remove them ; retaining 
hold of the end of the cord till you sponge it clean, and clip off 
a piece a line or so higher than where the lower edge of the 
clams griped. The rest of the dead part is left to slough, the 
cord being now let go, and the scrotum pulled smoothly over 
it. Walk the horse, and treat otherw ise as on the previous day ; 
and afterwards leave to Nature, and the horse will very soon be 
well, under ordinary treatment as regards diet, &e. 
Seatland, 18th Jan. 1831. 
