The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm Stock

by Charles William Burkett

CASTRATION.

—The removal of the testicles from male animals. Castration is practiced upon all the domestic animals. Only those male animals possessing desirable characteristics are retained entire. The operations are generally performed when the male animals become troublesome. In horses the time is usually at one to three years old; in cattle one to three months old; sheep at one to four months and pigs two to four months old. Dogs, as a rule, become worthless if castrated. Cats grow to an enormous size when castrated.

Suggestions About the Operation.

—In the castration of all the domestic animals some general suggestions will be beneficial. (1) Secure the animal so he cannot injure himself or the attendants. (2) Do the castration during the early spring. (3) Give the animal exercise after castration. (4) Boil the instruments before operating, using warm water and any good hand soap. (5) Disinfect the skin over the scrotum before operating with corrosive sublimate ¹⁄₁₀₀₀. (6) Wash the hands of the operator with soap and water, then disinfect with corrosive sublimate. (7) Great care should be exercised that no corrosive sublimate be left that stock may drink, as it is a deadly poison.

When the instruments have been boiled (sharp castrating knife and emasculator), cast (throw) the animal as carefully as possible. Secure the hind legs so they will not hinder the operator. The operator having his hands clean and the scrotum washed and both his hands disinfected, and also the region to be operated upon, the animal is ready for the operation. The lower testicle is grasped with the left hand and with the right hand an incision is made over the testicle, down to the testicle. The testicle is pulled upon until the cord is seen. Then the emasculator is used to crush the cord. This emasculator should be placed on the cord as high up as possible. Some like their horses castrated proud. This consists in leaving part of the testicle. This last method is not safe, as it allows the testicle to become infected and form what is commonly known as water seeds. A tumor grows on the cord and may become the size of a man’s head.

After the testicle is removed, then enlarge the first incision (cut) that was made through the skin so as to give plenty drainage. This incision should be about eight inches long for horses. By having a large incision the upper part can heal first, and there will be good drainage until the scrotum entirely heals. If possible turn the castrated horse out to pasture after the operation, and it will exercise sufficiently to keep the parts from swelling. Do not keep the animal in a dirty stable after it is castrated, as there is so much danger from infection in the dirty horse stable. If the horse is broken it can be put to light work a week after the castration.

Bulls do not need to be thrown to be castrated. The incision is made over each testicle, and the operation carried out in the same way as with the horse. Bulls are not so susceptible to infection as the horse.

CATARRH.

—Commonly known as a cold, catarrh is recognized as an inflamed state of the upper portions of the air passages, with more or less discharge from the mucous membranes. The eyes often sympathize with this deranged condition, with a watery state as the result. The causes of catarrh or colds in animals are very much the same as those causing the same disturbance in human beings; as with people, so with animals, the malady should be remedied as quickly as possible. Bad air is one of the most frequently observed causes; consequently pure cold air with proper blankets to keep the body warm is considered the best treatment for simple catarrh when unaccompanied with other troubles.

One of the common symptoms is dullness and loss of appetite. The hair stands out and looks rough, a slight cough may be noticed and sometimes a rattling is heard in the head. For cattle a mild dose of physic, consisting of one-half pound Epsom salts and 4 tablespoonfuls of sweet spirits of niter mixed in a pint of lukewarm water and given as a drench, is about all that is necessary. If the cold hangs on, mix together one-half pound of nitrate of potash or saltpeter and one-half pound of gentian root and give a teaspoonful of this three times a day until the animal is better. Of course good food should go along with this treatment. The horse should be fed soft food like bran mashes and be kept quiet in a well-ventilated stable. If the cold hangs on with him, mix one-half pound of saltpeter or nitrate of potash, one-half pound of sulphur, and one-half pound of ground gentian root and give a teaspoonful morning, noon and night.