THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 181 



animal varies according to the caprice of the owner, 

 although when between two and three years old ap- 

 pears to he the most popular age for castrating. Some, 

 however, think it most advisable to cut between the 

 second and fifth months, as then it does but little im- 

 pede the growth, and few are lost at that age. Those 

 that wish for good draught-horses, where the limbs 

 must be stout, strong, and well developed, the crest 

 lofty, and the forehead full, prefer waiting till the se- 

 cond or even the third year, when the colour of the 

 hair likewise assumes a deeper and brighter tone 

 of colour than when the animal has been operated on 

 at an earlier stage of his life. Colts do not require 

 much preparation; but when a full-grown horse is to 

 cut, if his living has been good, and he is in fine con- 

 dition and at all plethoric, it is necessary to bleed and 

 administer a purgative, and lower his diet, when he 

 will soon be fit for the operation ; on the other hand, 

 a horse in a state of great debility is equally unfit as a 

 full plethoric one. It may be here remarked that there 

 exists a great dissimilarity between a horse which has 

 been cut when young, and one allowed to reach a ma- 

 turer age. In this last case the windpipe is larger, and, 

 like the stallion, he has a better wind than geldings 

 of a younger age ; the head has a broader front, and 

 a more decided character, the eyes are more prominent, 

 and the voice of a deeper and more sonorous tone. 



Castration by cauterisation is the method usually 

 practised by veterinary surgeons, although where there 

 are several methods each will find its advocates. Hav- 

 ing ascertained that hernia or rupture is absent, after 

 casting and properly securing the animal, open the 

 bag on either side, and having cut ofi" the testicle, ap- 

 ply the hot iron, but do not keep it to the wound an 

 unnecessary length of time, as tliat is an unavailing 



