212, 
NATURAL HISTORY 
LETTER XXXII. 
TO THE SAME. 
Castration has a ftrange effeft : it emafculates both man, 
beaft, and bird, and brings them to a near refemblance of the other 
{ex. Thus eunuchs have fmooth unmufcular arms, thighs, and 
legs ; and broad hips, and beardlefs chins, and fqueaking voices. 
Gelt-ftags and bucks have hornlefs heads, like hinds and does. 
Thus wethers have fmall horns, like ewes ; and oxen large bent 
horns, and hoarfe voices when they low, like cows : for bulls have 
fhort flraight horns ; and though they mutter and grumble in a 
deep tremendous tone, yet they low in a flirill high key. Capons 
have fmall combs and gills, and look pallid about the head, hke 
pullets ; they alfo walk without any parade, and hover chickens 
like hens. Barrow-hogs have alfo fmall tulks like fows. 
Thus far it is plain that the deprivation of mafcuUne vigour puts 
a ftop to the growth of thofe parts or appendages that are looked 
upon as it's infignia. But the ingenious Mr. Lijle, in his book on 
hufbandry, carries it much farther ; for he fays that the lofs of 
thofe infignia alone has fometimes a ftrange effedt on the ability 
itfelf : he had a boar fo fierce and venereous, that, to prevent 
mifchief, orders were given for his tufks to be broken off. No 
fooner had the beaft fuffered this injury than his powers forfook 
him, and he negleded thofe females to whom before he was 
palTionately attached, and from whom no fences could reftrain 
him. 
LETTER 
