4 ANIMAL CASTRATION. 



not nearly so often resorted to for purely surgical 

 reasons as for purposes closely related to questions 

 of agricultural and industrial economy, by reason of 

 its effect upon the individuals of the various species 

 of animals subjected to it, in order to improve their 

 value and increase their usefulness to mankind. Arid 

 that this is its practical effect is no modern discovery. 

 As far back in antiquity as seven centuries preceding 

 the Christian era, it was known and practised upon 

 various animals. Of this we may find ample histori- 

 cal proof in the writings of Roman, Greek, and Ori- 

 ental authors, where specific mention appears of the 

 various methods employed, including the processes 

 of excision, of crushing and of tearing. Even the 

 castration of females was known to our less remote 

 ancestors, the Danes having in the sixteenth century 

 performed it on sheep, swine, cows, and even mares. 

 The spaying of cows, however, seems to have been 

 forgotten about the beginning of the present century, 

 and it was not until the year 1831 that Thomas Winn, 

 of Natchez (Louisiana"), and afterwards Levrat (of 

 Lausanne), brought it to the attention of veterinari- 

 ans, as a means for the improvement of the milky 

 secretion in cows. 



The operation may be considered under two distinct 

 heads. Under the first it is to be considered as one 

 of necessity, as when performed with a therapeutic 

 object in view ; as, for example, when it constitutes 

 one of the first steps involved in the surgical treat- 

 ment of strangulated hernia, or of diseased conditions 

 of the testicles or ovaries, such as orchitis, epididy- 



