CASTRATION OF THE COW. 
455 
Abcess in the pelvic cavity. This is a complication that 
Charlier speaks of, and one which occurred in one of the last of 
the cows that died from my operations. The animal without 
doubt died from peritonitis, but I think this had no connection 
with the abscess. The size of this tumor was about that of an 
egg, situated iu the recto-vaginal wall. On opening it I found a 
small amount of pus, which would probably have broken its way 
to the exterior through the vagina or rectum. 
Return of the rut. This has been noticed by some of the 
French experimenters in rare cases. The return of the heat is 
with great irregularity, taking place one or many months after 
the operation, but is not periodic as with the non-castrated cows. 
It lasts but a very short time, some minutes only, in certain cases, 
but returns then many times in a day. This condition continues 
some days, and then disappears. I can find no explanation of 
the cause of this return of the rut, but it has little or no influence, 
and so is of no particular importance. 
Precautions which are advisable for the most perfect results 
from the operation. The cow should not be in rut. She had 
best not be in a state of gestation; if she should be, not to exceed 
the third month. An animal, while in good health, should be 
spare rather than plethoric. If she should have a sucking calf, 
she should be deprived of it some time before the operation, so 
that she may have overcome her anxiety for it, and be at the same 
time saved from its annoying company. Eefore operating on a 
cow she should be deprived of her last meal to lessen the pres¬ 
sure in the abdomen. She should also be thoroughly milked, if 
she should not be dry. “ Her rectum,” says Gourdon, “ should 
be evacuated by an injeetion of tepid salt water, and her bladder 
emptied by titilating the urinator meatus, which immediately 
causes urination.” I have already given you my experience in 
trying to empty the bowels. I did not endeavor to empty the 
bladder, and found no inconvenience therefrom, excepting in a 
few cases causing urination while operating, from irritating the 
meatus. 
It is best to operate in a high temperature; not necessarily 
hot, but certainly not below 70° F. A pure atmosphere is also 
