CASTRATION. 575 



after that, perhaps another, the coagulum or clot is dis- 

 turbed or broken, and hemorrhage will possibly follow .'' 

 In the short lapse of time in which Amussat and Costello, 

 continuously, seize, twist, and replace the vessel, it is im- 

 possible coagulation of its blood can take place. 



Mr. Richardson is the next to adventure in this bold but 

 commendable line of practice. Confessing himself '^ among 

 the number who entertained doubts respecting the efficacy 

 of torsion in the horse;'' he, now that he has tested it, 

 " does not hesitate to express his firm conviction that this 

 will be the only method, in after-days, resorted to by 

 veterinarians for the removal of the testicles.'' 



Mr. Richardson made his first essay on an ass. The re- 

 sult exceeded his most sanguine expectations. He after- 

 wards operated on three colts ; and " never saw colts do so 

 well as they did afterwards." Being at grass, the colts 

 were in the morning taken into the crewyard, and kept 

 without food until the afternoon. They were then cut, and 

 " immediately allowed to go at large again in the fields." 

 ('Veterinarian' for 1835.) 



To Messrs. Simonds and Daws are the profession indebted 

 for most valuable and confirmatory information on this sub- 

 ject, published in ' The Veterinarian' for 1840. 



Mr. Simonds has drawn up a " report " of nine cases. — Case I, was a 

 four-year okl donkey. The testicle was let out with a scalpel, the finger 

 passed between the vas deferens and vascular part of the cord, and the 

 latter divided, which gave the operator full control over the cremaster. 

 The spermatic artery was now laid bare, about an inch above its testicle, 

 and was then seized with the torsion -forceps, and, lastly, divided immedi- 

 ately behind the forceps. The artery was drawn gently out, and about 

 a dozen twists given to it. It was then liberated. No blood escaped for 

 a few seconds ; but afterwards the jet was so considerable that IVIr. Simonds 

 was obliged to seize it anew, and make fresh twists. This efToctually 

 stanched the hemorrhage, and the testicle was cut away. The other 

 testicle was similarly extracted ; and the animal let up. A quarter of an 

 hour after, Mr. Simonds found the right spermatic artery bleeding — 

 arising from his not being an fait at manipulating his forceps. The ass 

 was re-cast, and the vessel tied. Some swelling followed ; but the ass 

 eventually did well. 



