334 DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



it, in order that a valuable strain might not be rendered 

 common. This same dog was brought to me. I could 

 detect no testicles, and I could perceive no cicatrix. The 

 body was fat and the disposition sluggish, but the frame 

 well developed. It was possible the scar, if the opera- 

 tion had been performed early, should have disappeared : 

 and there are means practised by which the testicles can 

 be in a great measure destroyed without making an inci- 

 sion. Here, however, there was nothing to denote they 

 had been present ; or evidence to show they had been 

 removed. I could by manipulation discover no bodies in 

 the inguinal canals. Under the circumstances, I was 

 unable to give a positive opinion ; but I leant to the idea 

 that the appearances resulted from defective conforma- 

 tion. 



My indecision exposed me to some remarks at the 

 time ; for the veterinary surgeon is never permitted to 

 doubt. Ignorance is the only reason the majority of his 

 patrons can conceive to account for his deliberation. A 

 year subsequent, however, the dog died ; and the body 

 was then brought to me, in order that the point might be 

 decided. I found both glands, which were not larger 

 than they should have been at birth, within the abdo- 

 men, whence they never had descended. 



It is very common to find small dogs, especially spa- 

 niels and terriers, with only one testicle in the scrotum ; 

 but in the larger number of such cases the other can be 

 detected, though it will be of small size, within the 

 canal. Animals in this condition are quite capable of 



