CASTRATION. 



are formed. Thus a young cock will spar at his 

 adversary before his spurs are grown ; and a calf or 

 lamb will push with their heads before their horns 

 are sprouted. In the same manner did these young 

 adders attempt to bite before their fangs were in 

 being. The dam, however, was furnished with very 

 formidable ones, which we lifted up, (for they fold 

 down when not used,) and cut them off with the 

 point of our scissars. 



There was little room to suppose that this brood 

 had fever been in the open air before, and that they 

 were taken in for refuge, at the mouth of the dam, 

 when she perceived that danger was approaching ; 

 because then, probably, we should have found them 

 somewhere in the neck, and not in the abdomen. 



LETTER LXXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



CASTRATION has a strange effect : it emasculates 

 both man, beast, and bird, and brings them to a 

 near resemblance of the other sex. Thus, eunuchs 

 have smooth unmuscular arms, thighs, and legs ; 

 and broad hips, and beardless chins, and squeaking 

 voices. Gelt stags and bucks have hornless heads, 

 like hinds and does. Thus wethers have small 

 horns, like ewes ; and oxen large bent horns, and 

 hoarse voices when they low, like cows : for bulls 

 have short straight horns ; and though they mutter 

 and grumble in a deep tremendous tone, yet they low 

 in a shrill high key. Capons have small combs and 

 gills, and look pallid about the head like pullets; 

 they also walk without any parade, and hover 



