A DICTIONARY. 



263 



ing up the passage ; with a hope also that 

 the inflammation caused by the excision 

 might altogether stop up the scrotal com- 

 munication with the abdomen. But, in the 

 appalling case of immense protrusion of 

 intestine, what is to be done ? Mr. Cole- 

 man, in such a case, proposes to make an 

 opening near the umbilicus, large enough 

 to introduce the hand, and thus draw in the 

 bowels. Mr. Percivall would prefer dilating 

 the external ring : but the testicle must be 

 very firmly retained, and even permanently 

 fixed against the dilated ring, or the bowels 

 would again descend. The intestines 

 probably would become inflated in any 

 such case. 



" As unbroken young horses are the most 

 usual subjects of this operation, and as such 

 often have not yet been bridled, if a colt 

 cannot be enticed with oats, etc., he must 

 be driven into a corner between two steady 

 horses ; where, if a halter cannot be put on, 

 at least a running hempen noose can be got 

 round his neck ; but, which ever is used, it 

 should be flat, or the struggles, which are 

 often long and violent, may bruise the neck, 

 and produce abscess or injury. When his 

 exertions have tired him, he may be then 

 led to the operating spot ; here his attention 

 should be engaged while the hobbles are 

 put on, if possible ; if not, a long and strong 

 cart-rope, having its middle portion formed 

 into a noose sufficiently large to take in the 

 head and neck, is to be slipped on, with the 

 knotted part applied to the counter or breast ; 

 the long pendant ends are passed back- 

 ward between the fore legs, then carried 

 round the hind fetlocks ; brought forward 

 again on the outside, run under the collar- 

 rope ; a second time carried backward on 

 the outer side of all, and extended to the 

 full length in a direct line behind the animal. 

 Thus fettered, Mr. Percivall says his hind 

 feet may be drawn under him toward the 

 elbows ; it has been, however, often found 

 that, at the moment the rope touches the 

 legs, the colt either kicks and displaces the 

 rope, or altogether displaces himself; but 

 his attention can generally be engaged by 

 one fore leg being held up, or by having his 



ear or muzzle rubbed, or even by the twitch ; 

 if not, the rope may be carried actually 

 round each fetlock, which then acts like a 

 hobble; and this rope may be gradually 

 tightened : this last, however, is a very ques- 

 tionable method, and the others therefore 

 ought to be long tried before it is resorted 

 to ; in this way people have succeeded with 

 very refractory colts ; but it requires very 

 able assistants, and, if possible, the man 

 who has been used to the individual colt 

 should be present. In either way, as soon 

 as the rope is fixed, with a man to each end 

 of it behind the colt, let them, by a sudden 

 and forcible effort in concert, approximate 

 his hind legs to his fore, and thus throw 

 him. Before the colt is cast, however, it 

 should be endeavored to ascertain that he 

 is free from strangles and hernia. 



" Being satisfied that no hernia exists on 

 either side, proceed to cast the colt, tm*ning 

 him, not directly on the left side, but prin- 

 cipally inclining that way ; and, if possible, 

 let the croup be very slightly elevated ; it is 

 usual to place him directly flat on the left 

 side, but the above is more convenient. 

 Next secm'e the near hind leg with a piece 

 of hempen tackle, having a running noose ; 

 or, in default of this not being at hand, 

 make use of the flat part of a hempen hal- 

 ter, which should for safety be put on be- 

 fore the hobble of that leg is removed ; as 

 may be readily done, if the hobbles having 

 shifting or screw D's, as described in cast- 

 ing, are made use of. Every requisite being 

 at hand, the operator, having his scalpel 

 ready, should place himself behind the 

 horse, as the most convenient way to per- 

 form his manipulations ; and, firmly grasp- 

 ing the left testicle with his left hand, and 

 drawing it out so as to render the scrotum 

 tense, he should make an incision length- 

 ways, from the anterior to the posterior 

 part of the bag. The resistance of the 

 cremaster muscle has to be overcome be- 

 fore the testicle can be forced to the bottom 

 of the scrotum ; and this is the more readily 

 accomplished if the annimal's attention be 

 engaged. The incision may be carried at 

 once through the integuments, the thin dar- 



