CASTRATION. 577 



In conclusion, let rae mentipn, that Mr. Wardle, V.S., East Sheen, in 

 1838, operated by torsion on sixteen colts, all of whom have done well. 

 His own conviction is, that he " shall never again use the actual 

 cautery." 



These accounts of torsion are flattering indeed. He 

 must be at least a more than ordinary sceptic wlio will not, 

 after perusing ihem, be induced to put the new remedy to 

 the test, and judge for himself. There appears to be little 

 or no apprehension entertainable about secondary hemor- 

 rhage in colts ; but that such may ensue, and prove fatal, 

 in aged stone-horses, is sufficiently manifest from one of 

 Mr. Daw's cases; and should such an event happen to a 

 veterinary surgeon in private practice it might be enough 

 to blast his reputation,^ in addition to the disrepute into 

 which it could not fail to bring the operation itself. In the 

 army, cases of castration are so few that I have not yet 

 myself^ had an opportunity of practising torsion -? when I 

 have, I think I shall, by way of precaution, run, with a 

 needle, single but strong threads through the cords, and 

 leave them hanging for some distance out of the wounds, 

 with a view of enabling me to recover the cord, should 

 secondary hemorrhage come on ; otherwise, they might 

 readily be withdrawn on the next day. Such a simple ad- 

 dition as this could not irritate, and yet might, it strikes 

 me, prove of very great service. I may now add to the 

 above account, in spite of the favorable aspect altogether 

 put on by it, that torsion has not made way with us. The 

 reason appears to be, that in castration we cannot endure 

 the thought of risk of any sort, however small it may be 

 represented to be. 



' ** Among the numerous cUlliculties which the country veterinarian has to 

 encounter, tliere are none that hurt liis character or hlast his reputation more 

 than a case of unsuccessful gchliug." So, truly, writes Mr. Tiiomson, of Beith. 



= Widely different, tliis, from the French service. M. Texier, V.S. in tlie 

 French cavalry, says, " From the heginning of December, 1830 to April, 1831, 

 I received for my regiment at Erreux about 2900 horses, 2000 of which were 

 castrated, hut by a gelder provided by the contractors." 



^ Since this was written I have experimented on an ass with success. 

 II. 37 



