OF FARRIERY. 



I^ 



In this operation there are cautions required, 

 and those of moment, though it is mainly per- 

 formed by ignorant men, who are called 

 cutters or gelders ; and though they will per- 

 form the mechanical part of the operation very 

 well, and to all appearance things go on as they 

 should do ; but if any alteration for the worse 

 should take place, these men do not under- 

 stand it, and not having a character to loose, 

 the matter is easily looked over, with the old 



well, but not being contented with doing well *, I imme- 

 diately removed the testicle with a scalpel, leaving the cord 

 only within the clams, which with the Horse's struggles, and 

 thecremaster muscle being on the stretch, he easily withdrew 

 it from between the clams, and the cord of course receded 

 into the sac, and bleeding commenced most furiously : 

 however, I did not loose my presence of mind, but took a 

 straight needle, and introduced the glover's sulure, the scro- 

 tum filled with blood to a tremendous extent, but yet I 

 had hope on my side ; I ordered the Horse to be kept 

 quiet by himself, and gave him aloes six drams, gave him 

 bran mashes and hay, saw the Horse on the morrow, and 

 found an immensely large scrotum. I procured some 

 warm water and a sponge, and then commenced, carefully 

 cutting the stitches, and to my astonishment three parts 

 of a common stable-pailful of coagulated blood came 

 tumbling down through the orifice 1 had made for the 

 escape of the testicle. I syringed the scrotum well out 

 with warm water, in which about two ounces of chloride 

 of lime had been put in, until all appeared safe, and no 

 discharge of blood whatever. The scrotum was dressed in 

 this manner for three or four days internally, and regularlv 

 bathed with warm water outwardly, and around ihe sheath 

 three times a day. This Horse went home perfectly 

 recovered in three days over a month, and fit to ride. 



and hog's lard sufficient to form an ointment ; they 

 are, before placing on the cord, tied together at one end, 

 then at the other pressed together with pincers, and tied 

 at the other, these are taken off on the morrow after the 

 operation. 



I merely make this remark, on account of Indian 

 Horses, that sometimes undergo this operation, die from 

 mortification taking place; and my belief of this is, the 

 operator tugs at ttie spermatic cord, on purpose to place 

 the clams up high, as if he had been on board a ship in 

 rpugh weather, and the order was given " main sail haul." 



adage attached to it, " bad luck this tim«, 

 better luck next ,•" not so with the veterinarian, 

 who is supposed never to do wrong, or bad 

 luck attend him ; his character is at stake, for 

 ten to one, the first company his employer falls 

 into. Horses will be a part, if not the greatest 

 part of their conversation, who are sure to 

 blame the operator if he be a " vet," so that 

 if John Jones or William Thomas, have been 

 gelders or cutters, and their forefathers before 

 them, for at least five generations, they must 

 know more than a scientific and well educated 

 veterinary surgeon. Therefore, it behoves 

 every man, undertaking the operation of cas- 

 tration, to be wt il informed, not only of their 

 parts, but their means of cure. The greatest 

 enemy you have to contend with, is inflamma- 

 tion of the parts ; should this take place, and 

 the Horse walk stiff with his hind legs, moving 

 with a straddling gait, (and especially if he be 

 an old Horse,) bathe the parts well with warm 

 water three or four times a day, after which wipe 

 perfectly dry; then rub all over the enlarged 

 scrotum and sheath with good digestive oint- 

 ment, and be not afraid to introduce some into the 

 sac, which will promote a discharge ; give the 

 ball as recommended before, every second day, 

 until the swelling goes down. The food yon 

 must regulate according to the age or size of 

 the Horse, but avoid giving much corn ; bran 

 mashes, green food, &c., are the best. In 

 old Horses, if attacked with swellings after 

 the operation, you must give a dose of physic, 

 and bleed : all the other applications will be 

 needful to be attended to, as in young Horses. 

 Locked jaw not unfretjuently supervenes on 

 this operation in India, and that I attribute to 

 the injury the nerve sustains, in consequence of 

 the operator pulling at the testicle so forcibly, 

 as before mentioned. 



