Castration

Castration is the method by which animals, both male and female, are deprived of parts of their generative organs (testicles and ovaries). They are in consequence rendered more valuable for working purposes, and also tend to grow and fatten much more quickly for the butcher. A castrated horse is called a gelding; a castrated bull, a bullock or steer (Scotch, 'stot'); a castrated boar, a pig; and a castrated ram, a wether. These are the ordinary male animals operated on in this country, but occasionally cocks are castrated, and are then called capons. Castration of females is called 'spaying,' and is frequently performed upon sows, which are then called gelts. In the male animal, after he has been properly secured, an incision is made into the testicular sac, and each testicle removed, either by torsion, by actual cautery, by caustic clam, or by scraping the cord. In the female animal an incision is made in the right flank, and each ovary removed through the opening, which is then stitched up. The operation is followed by several dangers, such as blood-poisoning, lock-jaw, hernia, hemorrhage, scirrhus cord, &c. See EUNUCH; also Dr A. Liantard's Animal Castration (trans. 1884).