LETTER XXXII 



TO THE SAME 



CASTRATION has a strange effect : it emasculates both man, 

 beast, and bird, and brings them to a near resemblance 

 of the other sex. Thus eunuchs have smooth unmuscular 

 arms, thighs, and legs ; and broad hips, and beardless 

 chins, and squeaking voices. Gelt-stags and bucks have 

 hornless heads, like hinds and does. Thus wethers have 

 small horns, like ewes ; and oxen large bent horns, and 

 hoarse voices when they low, like cows : for bulls have 

 short straight horns ; and though they mutter and grumble 

 in a deep tremendous tone, yet they low in a shrill high 

 key. Capons have small combs and gills, and look pallid 

 about the head like pullets ; they also walk without any 

 parade, and hover chickens like hens. Barrow-hogs have 

 also small tusks like sows. 



Thus far it is plain that the deprivation of masculine 

 vigour puts a stop to the growth of those parts or append- 

 ages that are looked upon as it's insignia. But the ingenious 

 Mr. Lisle, in his book on husbandry, carries it much 

 farther ; for he says that the loss of those insignia alone 

 has sometimes a strange effect on the ability itself : he had 

 a boar so fierce and venereous, that, to prevent mischief, 

 orders were given for his tusks to be broken off. No 

 sooner had the beast suffered this injury than his powers 

 forsook him, and he neglected those females to whom 

 before he was passionately attached, and from whom no 

 fences could restrain him. 



