CASTRATION.
There are few countries where this operation is not performed to any great extent. Under favorable conditions of health, castration should be performed at the age of one year. The safest months are April and May, and the safest time a week or two after being turned out to pasture when he is shedding his coat. Do not operate upon a colt that has been kept in ill ventilated place, but have the colt in good condition, and the weather moderate, neither too hot or too cold. See that he has no distemper or any such disease. It is necessary that the hands and instruments be thoroughly cleansed by washing them in hot water, a little soap and a few drops of cresol. If the age be above a year it is best to feed very light the day before the operation, as there is less danger from being thrown and tied and also from the operation itself, when the bowels are empty. It is very important to ascertain whether or not the colt has ever suffered rupture, as he must be operated upon differently. Examine the testicles to see that they are down. Generally speaking after these precautions, so far as the animal is concerned, he is ready for the operation.
There are several methods of removing the testicles and I will mention only the Emasculator method. This is the latest method of operation, and gives results that are satisfactory in majority of cases. In my opinion it is the best and most humane. Open the scrotum and allow the testicles to protrude, being careful to make the opening sufficiently large. When the testicles protrude sufficiently far from the opening in the scrotum, pour some cresol and cotton-seed oil (20 drops of cresol to an ounce of cotton-seed oil) around the cords and into the scrotum. Apply it thoroughly in order to prevent its healing too rapidly. Open the emasculator and place it around the cord, shove up as far as possible on the cord without pulling or using force. Should the patient pull upon the cord it is better to suspend operation for a time until he ceases, as the length of the cord cannot be ascertained unless it is slack when the emasculator is placed at the proper point. Tighten up the instrument by means of pressing the two handles together until the testicle is squeezed off. This makes a peculiarly dull cut, different from that of a sharp knife and thus has the effect of closing the end of the artery and preventing the flow of blood. Some veterinarians take off both testicles at the same time. There is, however, more danger from bleeding in this way, and I recommend that each be taken off separately. The patient may be allowed to regain his feet as soon as the testicles are removed. I desire to add again that it is absolutely necessary to see that the hands of the operator and the instruments are thoroughly cleansed both before and after the operation.
Bleeding After Castration.—Frequently you will be called on to stop bleeding after veterinaries or farmers have used some obsolete method of castration, and I would recommend that you use either of the following suggestions:
If bleeding is from the little artery in the back portion of the cord, it will generally stop of its own accord, but if it should continue to bleed for 30 minutes, throw clean, cold water against the part.
When bleeding is from the large artery in front of the cord, it is considered dangerous. The artery should be tied with a silk thread if possible, or twisted with a pair of forceps. Occasionally the artery cannot be found, in which case the hole in the scrotum should be plugged with a clean cloth saturated with Tincture of Iron, which will clot the blood and thus close the artery.