avery's own farrier. !59 



chasing and running after others whereby a year's growth 

 is lost at least. And if he should happen to die in con- 

 sequence of this operation, the older he is the greater 

 the loss would be. Besides this, his serving mares at 

 this age, has a tendency to inapair his strength, as well 

 as to check his growth, aside from the liability of his 

 receiving other injuries. Castration at a more advanced 

 age often proves prejudicial to the temper, &c. Al- 

 though I like to see the entire horse, there is no question 

 but that early castration make larger and better propor- 

 tioned animals, which are better in all respects for or- 

 dinary business, aside from the trouble it costs to take 

 care of them. 



Among the different modes of performing this opera- 

 tion, the one of turning as it is called, or twisting the 

 cords, so as to stop the circulation to the testicle, leaving 

 it to rot off, I abhor as being cruel and barbarous; be- 

 sides there is risk attending it of sacrificing the animal at 

 whatever age. The one of placing sticks on the cord 

 does far better than the former, which were covered with 

 a composition made of two parts of red precipitate, and 

 one part of corrosive sublimate made into paste. This 

 sears the cord and blood vessels, and prevents bleeding, 

 sets the wound discharging, and hastens the healing 

 process, which gained for it considerable favor on its 

 first introduction. But this, too, has its objections, viz: 

 Firstly, these sticks have to remain on the cord from 

 fifteen to twenty-four hours, which is an unnecessary 

 torture to the horse, and strains the cords so that it 

 frequently injures his shape and actioi^for a long time. 



