130 ANIMAL CASTfiATIOK. 



the entire condition, becoming so noticably more ten- 

 der, juicy and palatable, retaining more of the oily 

 element, digesting more easily, and so, of course, ac- 

 quiring a pecuniarj^ value in the market not before 

 possessed. These remarks apply to the dry equally 

 with the milch cow, and leaving out the reference to 

 the milk secretion, to the ox as well. 



With respect to the effect of the operation upon 

 the character and disposition of the cow, these are 

 easily illustrated in the movements of the nympho- 

 maniac animal, which may be said to be constantly 

 in a state of hysterical excitement. They seem to 

 be in continual conditions of heat, running after and 

 mounting other animals with which they may be in 

 company, while never producing and giving no milk. 

 They are always in a lean condition, and must re- 

 main a pecuniary loss to the dairyman. This mani- 

 festation of nymphomania is also met with in the 

 mare, which, continually exhibiting signs of heat, 

 becomes more or less dangerous on that account. In 

 these cases the advantage of the operation of spay- 

 ing cannot be overlooked. We have personal knowl- 

 edge of several cases of this character, in which 

 worthless and troublesome mares have been transi 

 ' formed into docile and valuable animals. 



CONDITIONS FAVOEABLE TO THE OPEEATION. 



Charlier expresses the opinion that the best tim» 

 for the performance of the operation upon cows is 

 from the sixth to the eighth year, or after they have 

 had their second or tUi^-,d calf. If performed at aa 



