EFFECTS OF CASTRATION. 667 
I am aware in England there is some risk attributed to the 
castration of an aged animal by the old and almost universal 
method of cauterization ; but I have found the method adopted 
here to be, without exception, successful in old horses, as well 
adults, and I doubt not would be equally so with colts. I have 
never lost one from the operation itself. It is simply exposing 
the testicles, cutting through all the constituents of the cord 
but the artery, which must be separated from its surrounding 
tissue by manipulation with the finger and thumb, and a few 
rubs with a scalpel scrapes through it. No haemorrhage of mo- 
ment follows. The scrotum is generally filled with a coagulum, 
which is removed on the second or third day, and simple dress- 
ings applied to promote suppuration, which generally takes 
place from the fifth to the eighth day, and in about twenty days 
the animal is almost invariably fit for work ; although I have 
used one of my own twelve days after the operation, on forced 
marches, without any ill effects. The loss in condition is very 
trifling, in many cases not perceptible. 
The pathological effects I allude to are these, — thickening and 
suppuration of the cord, and scirrhous growth. I can relate 
one case of each, and state that, after having operated on above 
300 horses, the greater part of which were in some way 
diseased, about ten have done badly, and five died. They 
were officers’ chargers, light cavalry and artillery horses, from 
adultism up to fifteen years of age, the greater part of them 
stale worked horses. In explanation of the diseased testicles, 
I imagine the horses, being used in rapid movements of cavalry 
or artillery draught, are liable to injury from concussion when 
in a relaxed condition from the heat of the climate ; or the testes 
become abnormally large from an irritable condition of the parts 
consequent on high feeding and excitement, and the constant 
emission of semen. Few horses are altogether exempt from 
this habit, and to such an extent is it sometimes carried, that 
so much emaciation and debility ensues as to render the animal 
worthless; and these cases, if of long standing, generally do 
badly if castrated. The abnormal condition of the organs of 
generation are enlargement of the testes, a thickened and carti- 
laginous state of the constituents of the cord, as well as serous 
effusion into the faschia, and dropsy of the scrotum ; also adhe- 
sion to the tunica vaginalis; but this is not generally found in 
connexion with dropsy. 
CASE 1 . — A white Arab horse, about nine years old, the 
property of an officer, who consulted me as to the propriety of 
castration. 
The animal appeared in tolerable condition. The testicles 
were twice the natural size, and hung down nearly to the hocks, 
