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Castration of the Horse in the Standing Posture
GENERAL ARTICLES.
inflammation in the heads of the bones is equally undoubted; the manufacture of cartilage, 'wiziclz is constantly occurring, ceases; what is left is removed by friction, pressure, and the influence of the inflammatory fluid in the joint, and I conceive that our only hope of saving the limb at this stage of the disease lies in treating the interior of the joint as an open wound, and thus reducing the inflammatory action \vithin. No matter what view we take of the treatment, we cannot disguise from ourselves or our clients that these cases are severe surgical conditions involving life, and offering only a small prospect of recovery. (To be continued.)
CASTRATION OF THE HORSE IN THE STANDING POSTURE. By
EDWARD GRIFFITHS,
Veterinary Student, Knighton.
ALTHOUGH the method of castrating horses in the standing posture has for some years been rather extensively practised in this country, and is yearly becoming more popular, the subject has hitherto received very scant notice in the professional journals. It is not my intention to discuss here at any length the advantages and disadvantages of this method of operating; my object is rather to describe the operation itself, or rather one way of performing it of which I have myself had considerable experience. 11lstrulIlents.--These are, a clam for each testicle, forceps, and a knife. Various kinds of clams are used for the operation, but I generally employ those that tie at both ends. I prefer these to the kind with a leather fastening at one end, because they are much easier to remove from the ~permatic cord, owing to the fact that it suffices to cut the anterior string. In those fastened at one end (the anterior) with a broad ring of leather, the removal is less easily effected, for after the clam has been on for a few hours it is difficult or impossible to take the leather off, and one has therefore to cut the string fastening the posterior end. The clams should not be made so heavy as they sometimes are, for when very large and clumsy they drag too much on the cord. They should be from 5-5~ inches in length, and provided with a small groove on the flat face. If made too short it sometimes happens that the hinder end of the clam is drawn up through the scrotal wound, and this causes unnecessary irritation. It is advisable to employ some antiseptic dressing on the clams, and the one I use is corrosive sublimate. This is generally applied mixed with lard, but I prefer to fix the powdered sublimate on the clam by means of a solution of gum. The powder should be rubbed in with the flat of a knife, and then exposed to a gentle heat until the gum is dry. This is a great improvement on the ointment, as it is cleanly and adheres well to the clam. Little requires to be said about the knife. The one I employ is of the ordinary castrating form, and I need only remark that it ought to be sharp and aseptic. The forceps are required to bring together the anterior ends of the
GENERAL ARTICLES.
halves of the clam to permit of their being tied with string. They ought to be about 9 or 10 inches in length, and the handles ought to have a ratchet to fasten them when they are closed. By this means one can manage to operate without any assistant, but otherwise an assistant is required to grasp and hold the forceps tight while the operator secures the end of the clams with string. Another advantage of having the forceps capable of being fastened in this way, rather than held by an assistant, is that if the animal is restive the cord is less likely to be stretched or lacerated. Operatio1l.-If the animal to be operated on is a wild colt it must first be haltered and put in a stall where there is a good light. Blinders are then put over the eyes; if these are not available a piece of sacking may be used for the same purpose. A twitch is now put on the upper lip, and both halter and twitch are given to a man to hold in his left hand, while he puts his right shoulder against the left shoulder of the colt. A second assistant is given the instruments, which he holds in readiness. When all is ready the operator takes up a position on the left side of the animal, a little in front of the flank, and passes his left hand along the abdomen until it reaches the scrotum, when he grasps the right testicle. By dealing with the right testicle first the operator gets less blood about himself, and has greater freedom for the second half of the operation, than if he removed the left first. The testicle having been seized, it is pressed firmly down into the scrotal sac, and the operator, taking the knife in his right hand, makes a longitudinal incision alongside of the raphe. This incision should be made from before backwards, and be about 3 or 3! inches in length in a large animal. If it is made too small difficulty may be encountered in returning the end of the spermatic cord through the narrow orifice after the clam has been removed. As soon as the testicle pops out a firm hold of it is taken with the left hand above the epididymis. The clam, held in readiness by an assistant, is now taken in the right hand, and, having it well open, the operator passes it from behind forward between the hind legs, until it embraces the spermatic cord above the epididymis. The fingers of the left hand now grasp the free ends of the clam and squeeze them together to prevent it dropping off if the animal moves. The right hand is now set free, and must next be used to ascertain that no skin is included in the clams along with the spermatic cord. If a fold of skin is thus included it may not be possible to tighten the clam sufficiently to stop the h;emorrhage. The right hand is now withdrawn, and with it the operator seizes the forceps, applies them to the clam, and tightens the latter sufficiently. The ends of the clam must now be tied with string, preferably soft, as that holds better when one is knotting it. The string having been tied, the testicle is to be cut off pretty close to the lower edge of the clam. The cut should be made from behind forwards, as that diminishes the risk of accidentally severing the string that fastens the hinder end of the clams. The first half of the operation is now completed, and the procedure is similar for the removal of the left testicle. The blinders and twitch having been removed. the animal is put into a loose-box if it is a colt, or tied up in a stall if it is an old animal.
23 2
GENERAL ARTICLES.
In the latter case the horse should be tied long enough to enable it to lie down, but so short as to prevent it from reaching the clams with its mouth, as old horses are apt to make attempts to pull off the clam, and may thereby lacerate the cord. Removal of tile Cla1lls.-1 generally leave the clams on for 20-24 hours in the case of yearlings, but from 30-36 hours in the case of older animals. At the end of that time the animal ought to be haltered or bridled, and drawn up in a stall. Approaching the animal on the left side, the operator passes his left hand backwards along the abdomen, and feels for the right clam first. Having found the anterior end of this, he cuts the string tying it ,vith the knife in the right hand. The knife is now laid aside, and the clam is well opened, without any downward pressure, in order to avoid laceration of the cord and possible ha:morrhage. \Vhen the clam has been opened the end of the cord is gently pushed up between its branches so as to set it free. The end of the cord usually retracts readily within the scrotal wound, but, if not, this is readily effected by passing the finger through the anterior part of the wound, amI gently drawing the skin downwards. A little carbolised oil is applied to the scrotal wound, and the operation is completed by repeating the same steps for the removal of the right clam. In conclusion I may say that the operation in my hands has proved very safe alike for animal and operator. During the past summer I have castrated by this method over 140 animals without any noteworthy accident. These animals varied in size from I I to 161 hands high, while their ages ranged from I to 12 years.
TUBERCULOSIS, ITS DIAGNOSIS, SANITARY ASPECT, ETC.l
By THOMAS WALLEY, M.R.C.V.S., Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh.
AT the outset of the discussion on tuberculosis attention was mainly, I might say almost entirely, directed to the bovine species as its victims. In my first essay on this subject read before the West of Scotland Veterinary Medical Association just twenty years ago I find the following passages: "Not only has the dise;].se increased of late years amongst our ordinary domestic animals, but its ranges are widely extended to the feathered tribes, and even to such partially undomesticated animals as rabbits, rats, and others of the rodent species," and againspeaking more specifically on this point-" I will first premise that no domestic animal is free from this disease in some form or other, either idiopathically, hereditarily, or acquired-though perhaps in some instances the fact may have escaped the notice of observers. Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, fowls, the rodent tribe-all are subject to it." Further on in that essay I drew attention to a statement of Villemin (which appeared in the February number of the EdillbztlZ;ll //Iledical journal, 1867), to the effect that in his belief dogs are not the subjects 1
Read at a meeting of the Lancashire Vetelinary Medical Association held at )[anchestel', 8eptemhel' 14, 1892.
inflammation in the heads of the bones is equally undoubted; the manufacture of cartilage, 'wiziclz is constantly occurring, ceases; what is left is removed by friction, pressure, and the influence of the inflammatory fluid in the joint, and I conceive that our only hope of saving the limb at this stage of the disease lies in treating the interior of the joint as an open wound, and thus reducing the inflammatory action \vithin. No matter what view we take of the treatment, we cannot disguise from ourselves or our clients that these cases are severe surgical conditions involving life, and offering only a small prospect of recovery. (To be continued.)
CASTRATION OF THE HORSE IN THE STANDING POSTURE. By
EDWARD GRIFFITHS,
Veterinary Student, Knighton.
ALTHOUGH the method of castrating horses in the standing posture has for some years been rather extensively practised in this country, and is yearly becoming more popular, the subject has hitherto received very scant notice in the professional journals. It is not my intention to discuss here at any length the advantages and disadvantages of this method of operating; my object is rather to describe the operation itself, or rather one way of performing it of which I have myself had considerable experience. 11lstrulIlents.--These are, a clam for each testicle, forceps, and a knife. Various kinds of clams are used for the operation, but I generally employ those that tie at both ends. I prefer these to the kind with a leather fastening at one end, because they are much easier to remove from the ~permatic cord, owing to the fact that it suffices to cut the anterior string. In those fastened at one end (the anterior) with a broad ring of leather, the removal is less easily effected, for after the clam has been on for a few hours it is difficult or impossible to take the leather off, and one has therefore to cut the string fastening the posterior end. The clams should not be made so heavy as they sometimes are, for when very large and clumsy they drag too much on the cord. They should be from 5-5~ inches in length, and provided with a small groove on the flat face. If made too short it sometimes happens that the hinder end of the clam is drawn up through the scrotal wound, and this causes unnecessary irritation. It is advisable to employ some antiseptic dressing on the clams, and the one I use is corrosive sublimate. This is generally applied mixed with lard, but I prefer to fix the powdered sublimate on the clam by means of a solution of gum. The powder should be rubbed in with the flat of a knife, and then exposed to a gentle heat until the gum is dry. This is a great improvement on the ointment, as it is cleanly and adheres well to the clam. Little requires to be said about the knife. The one I employ is of the ordinary castrating form, and I need only remark that it ought to be sharp and aseptic. The forceps are required to bring together the anterior ends of the
GENERAL ARTICLES.
halves of the clam to permit of their being tied with string. They ought to be about 9 or 10 inches in length, and the handles ought to have a ratchet to fasten them when they are closed. By this means one can manage to operate without any assistant, but otherwise an assistant is required to grasp and hold the forceps tight while the operator secures the end of the clams with string. Another advantage of having the forceps capable of being fastened in this way, rather than held by an assistant, is that if the animal is restive the cord is less likely to be stretched or lacerated. Operatio1l.-If the animal to be operated on is a wild colt it must first be haltered and put in a stall where there is a good light. Blinders are then put over the eyes; if these are not available a piece of sacking may be used for the same purpose. A twitch is now put on the upper lip, and both halter and twitch are given to a man to hold in his left hand, while he puts his right shoulder against the left shoulder of the colt. A second assistant is given the instruments, which he holds in readiness. When all is ready the operator takes up a position on the left side of the animal, a little in front of the flank, and passes his left hand along the abdomen until it reaches the scrotum, when he grasps the right testicle. By dealing with the right testicle first the operator gets less blood about himself, and has greater freedom for the second half of the operation, than if he removed the left first. The testicle having been seized, it is pressed firmly down into the scrotal sac, and the operator, taking the knife in his right hand, makes a longitudinal incision alongside of the raphe. This incision should be made from before backwards, and be about 3 or 3! inches in length in a large animal. If it is made too small difficulty may be encountered in returning the end of the spermatic cord through the narrow orifice after the clam has been removed. As soon as the testicle pops out a firm hold of it is taken with the left hand above the epididymis. The clam, held in readiness by an assistant, is now taken in the right hand, and, having it well open, the operator passes it from behind forward between the hind legs, until it embraces the spermatic cord above the epididymis. The fingers of the left hand now grasp the free ends of the clam and squeeze them together to prevent it dropping off if the animal moves. The right hand is now set free, and must next be used to ascertain that no skin is included in the clams along with the spermatic cord. If a fold of skin is thus included it may not be possible to tighten the clam sufficiently to stop the h;emorrhage. The right hand is now withdrawn, and with it the operator seizes the forceps, applies them to the clam, and tightens the latter sufficiently. The ends of the clam must now be tied with string, preferably soft, as that holds better when one is knotting it. The string having been tied, the testicle is to be cut off pretty close to the lower edge of the clam. The cut should be made from behind forwards, as that diminishes the risk of accidentally severing the string that fastens the hinder end of the clams. The first half of the operation is now completed, and the procedure is similar for the removal of the left testicle. The blinders and twitch having been removed. the animal is put into a loose-box if it is a colt, or tied up in a stall if it is an old animal.
23 2
GENERAL ARTICLES.
In the latter case the horse should be tied long enough to enable it to lie down, but so short as to prevent it from reaching the clams with its mouth, as old horses are apt to make attempts to pull off the clam, and may thereby lacerate the cord. Removal of tile Cla1lls.-1 generally leave the clams on for 20-24 hours in the case of yearlings, but from 30-36 hours in the case of older animals. At the end of that time the animal ought to be haltered or bridled, and drawn up in a stall. Approaching the animal on the left side, the operator passes his left hand backwards along the abdomen, and feels for the right clam first. Having found the anterior end of this, he cuts the string tying it ,vith the knife in the right hand. The knife is now laid aside, and the clam is well opened, without any downward pressure, in order to avoid laceration of the cord and possible ha:morrhage. \Vhen the clam has been opened the end of the cord is gently pushed up between its branches so as to set it free. The end of the cord usually retracts readily within the scrotal wound, but, if not, this is readily effected by passing the finger through the anterior part of the wound, amI gently drawing the skin downwards. A little carbolised oil is applied to the scrotal wound, and the operation is completed by repeating the same steps for the removal of the right clam. In conclusion I may say that the operation in my hands has proved very safe alike for animal and operator. During the past summer I have castrated by this method over 140 animals without any noteworthy accident. These animals varied in size from I I to 161 hands high, while their ages ranged from I to 12 years.
TUBERCULOSIS, ITS DIAGNOSIS, SANITARY ASPECT, ETC.l
By THOMAS WALLEY, M.R.C.V.S., Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh.
AT the outset of the discussion on tuberculosis attention was mainly, I might say almost entirely, directed to the bovine species as its victims. In my first essay on this subject read before the West of Scotland Veterinary Medical Association just twenty years ago I find the following passages: "Not only has the dise;].se increased of late years amongst our ordinary domestic animals, but its ranges are widely extended to the feathered tribes, and even to such partially undomesticated animals as rabbits, rats, and others of the rodent species," and againspeaking more specifically on this point-" I will first premise that no domestic animal is free from this disease in some form or other, either idiopathically, hereditarily, or acquired-though perhaps in some instances the fact may have escaped the notice of observers. Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, fowls, the rodent tribe-all are subject to it." Further on in that essay I drew attention to a statement of Villemin (which appeared in the February number of the EdillbztlZ;ll //Iledical journal, 1867), to the effect that in his belief dogs are not the subjects 1
Read at a meeting of the Lancashire Vetelinary Medical Association held at )[anchestel', 8eptemhel' 14, 1892.