574 CASTRATION. 



a general plan in France to walk such horses in hand an 

 hour night and morning. Mr. Goodwin, in proof of its not 

 being hurtful, informs us that whole studs of horses brought 

 to St. Petersburgh to be operated on, are immediately 

 travelled back a certain portion of the distance, night and 

 morning, until they arrive at home. We have, therefore, no 

 hesitation in recommending a moderate degree of motion in 

 preference to absolute rest. 



The French method of casti'ation is advocated by Mr. Good- 

 win ; and it is sufficient that it receives his recommendation 

 to entitle it to attention ; it is rendered the more so, as he 

 observes on the method in general use among us, " that the 

 operation performed by the actual cautery always induces, 

 more or less, symptoms that often become alarming ; and 

 that it cannot be performed on the adult without incurring 

 more swelling and severer consequences than attend other 

 methods of operation. If I ever use the actual cautery, it 

 is for the sake of expedition, and then only on a yearling, 

 or a two-year old ; but I am resolved never to employ it 

 again on an adult." These observations, as emanating from 

 such a source, must be deemed important. Mr. Goodwin 

 then offers the description of the French method of operat- 

 ing from Hurtrel d'Arboval. ' Castration by means of the 

 clams is the method in general use, if not the only one now 

 employed ; it is the most ancient, since it was recommended 

 by Hieroclius among the Greeks. It is performed in two 

 ways, the testicle being covered or uncovered. In the former, 

 the exterior of the scrotum, formed by the skin and dartos 

 muscle, is cut through, and the testicle is brought out by dis- 

 secting away the laminated tissue, the gland being covered 

 by the tunica vaginalis ; the clam is then placed above 

 the epididymis, outside the external peritoneal covering, of 

 the cord. In the uncovered operation, the incision is made 

 through the serous capsule of the testicle ; the tunica vagi- 

 nalis being divided, the testicle presents itself, and the 

 clam is placed well above the epididymis, on the cord. The 

 operation, performed in either way, requires us to provide 

 ourselves with a scalpel, a pair of clams, a pair of long 

 pincers, made purposely to bring the ends of the clams 

 together, and some waxed string. The clams may be formed 

 of different kinds of wood ; but the elder is considered the 



