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in the horse, yet the stallion, when trained, worked, and fed in the 

 same way as a gelding, generally does its work with equal ease and 

 docilit}^ Of all the animals subjected to the operation, the best 

 results are seen in the bull — as witness the calm, quiet appearance of 

 the eye and head, and the easy comportment of a big three or four 

 years old bullock, compared to the rugged forehead and the fierce eye 

 of a bull of the same age. Although castration can be performed 

 with ease and success, the operation, at the best, is not one of a 

 pleasant nature ; but when the safety of mankind is at stake, the end 

 justifies the means. In the horse, the time selected for castration 

 is when the animal is rising one year old — in the spring months, April 

 and May, — ^just before it is turned out to grass, but the operation can 

 be performed at any age and at any time. 



729. The Horse. — At the present day, there is a great amount of 

 controversy going on between those who favour operating on the colt 

 in the standmg posture, and those who cast and secure the animal. 

 The use of chloroform is also being discussed, but generally speaking, 

 every operator has his own particular method. An old-fashioned, yet 

 I think the best way, is to cast and secure the colt ; then, before 

 operating, wash the penis well with cold water and carbolic soap, dry it 

 with a clean rough towel, and pour into the sheath a little carbolic oil, 

 smearing some of it also over the bag (scrotum) ; next press the testicle 

 tight into the scrotum, holding it firmly there by the left hand, then by 

 one quick sweep of a sharp knife, make a bold opening, and expose the 

 gland, which is seized and pulled gently up ; the clam is put on about 

 from one and a half to two inches up the cord, and with the hot iron 

 — dead red-heat is best — -the non-vascular, or hinder portion, is quickly 

 cut through, and liberated from the clam ; next the spermatic cord 

 (or string) is slowly seared through, and when satisfied that the 

 bleeding has stopped, by gently opening and shutting the clam, let 

 the parts go, and treat the other testicle in the same way. This 

 mode of operating, with an ordinary colt, only takes from eight 

 to twelve minutes to cast, tie, wash, castrate, and liberate, and owing 

 to the success attending it, I am very partial to it. Many operators, 

 however, both qualified and unqualified, open the scrotum with the 



