174 CASTRATION. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



CASTRATION, AND THE DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE 

 ORGANS. 



Custom, and indeed the pleasant and safe use of the 

 horse, require that the colt should usually be gelded. 

 The operation of 



CASTRATION 



is performed with greater safety before the foal is 

 weaned; but, as the glands commonly have not de- 

 scended at this age, it can rarely be accomplished so 

 early. The form of the neck and shoulders is materi- 

 ally affected by the length of time the colt remains 

 perfect; wherefore the carriage-horse, and the horse 

 of heavy draught, should never be castrated before he 

 is a twelvemonth old. If the fore quarters are then 

 large and muscular, the sooner the colt undergoes the 

 operation the better ; if they are weak and thin, he 

 should be allowed some further time. Many dealers 

 do not castrate until the colt is two years old ; and, in 

 particular cases, the operation is even delayed till the 

 animal has attained his fourth year. 



A great many new methods of castration have been 

 lately promulgated ; and each has had its defenders. 

 As a general rule none of these are very dangerous ; 

 and it is difficult to decide which is, in every respect, 

 the best. Place and season seem to influence the 

 result. For a long period one plan may be practised 

 with success ; but all at once, without any reason 

 being obvious, the deaths by the method may be fre- 

 quent; and, perhaps, the system which previously 



