THE HYGIENE AND THE SUBSEQUENT ATTENTION.
The moment the patient has risen from his bed and has been thoroughly cleansed from the blood that has soiled his legs, it becomes necessary, if the clamps have been used, to apply the necessary means to prevent their removal by the action of the tail. This is done by braiding the hairs shortly, and sometimes tying it up on the side. Even when this is not necessary, from the clamps not having been used, it is better to have the tail tightened up short, in order, when the suppurative process is established, the more easily to preserve the cleanliness of that part of the body. It is recommended by some veterinarians, also, as soon as the animal is on his feet, to have him thoroughly rubbed and dried, lest, as is not uncommon, he should have perspired excessively during the operation. He may be warmly blanketed if he has been accustomed to a covering, or in any case, placed in a quiet stall and tied up. If quiet and unexcited, and exhibiting no immediate ill consequences of the operation, he may, after an interval, be allowed to go loose in a box stall. If there are any manifestations of pain, or colicky symptoms, walking exercise may be given. Quietness, protection from changes of the weather, moderate diet, varying according to his condition, are included in the only general instructions that can be given.
The wound simply requires to be kept clean. Washing with cool water and soap when the discharge is well established, will fulfil this indication. The closing of the edges of the wound is to be carefully prevented by the introduction of the finger between them, care being taken to avoid the laceration of any points where union has already taken place in the upper part of the wound.
It is not an unusual thing to find even these simple measures of caution overlooked by gelders, some of them even recommending that the animal should, immediately after the operation, be violently exercised—even put in harness and made to draw a wagon. It is true that a little and gentle exercise may be beneficial, with a view to the removal of the soreness and pain of the newly castrated animal; it must be admitted even that Professor Bouley recommends slow exercise to be carried to the extent of fatiguing the animal. But when we take into consideration how seriously some animals, at least, are affected by the operation, and the serious complications which may follow it—even laying aside the humanitarian view of the question—we must necessarily conclude that such directions and such a practice is in violation of all the laws of true surgery, and even if justified by the strongest statistics, is condemned if confronted by a single fatal case.