EFFECTS OF CASTRATION. 
669 
hydriod. potass, with moderately nutritious diet ; a fair allow- 
ance of chenah (a kind of pulse, the only grain here given to 
horses), and lucerne grass. The horse is now well, and has 
been doing his work as a hackney in good condition since dis- 
charged from the hospital. A year since 1 had a similar case in 
an officer’s charger in the 1st Light Cavalry, at Arcot, which, 
under similar treatment, was equally successful ; but both were 
long standing cases, and gave great trouble. 
Case II, one of five, all terminating fatally. 
A grey troop horse, belonging to the 1st Light Cavalry, at 
Arcot, discharged from hospital fifteen days after castration, 
had not been worked, admitted five days after with swelling of 
the scrotum and stiffness and dragging of the off hind leg. I 
have no record if the testes of this animal were particularly dis- 
eased, as, from the number of cases while the whole of the horses 
of the regiment were being operated on, I could not without 
notes call every individual one to mind. I operated on twenty 
in a morning about twice a week ; time occupied, one hour. 
On examination I found the scrotum hard and swollen, but no 
appearance of pointing or pus detectible ; and as there was 
little or no constitutional disturbance, I ordered simple fomenta- 
tions of hot water frequently, a liberal diet, and green grass to 
keep the bowels lax. This went on for some days with no 
appearance of softening or maturing of the tumours. I made 
an examination per rectum from the spine. Extending down- 
wards towards the ring wa3 a tumour, which appeared hard and 
consistent, as large as a man’s arm at the wrist. 
The symptoms became aggravated, the animal lost appetite 
and spirits, the leg was advanced and held in one position ; 
the external abdominal veins distended with blood, the muscles 
of the abdomen contracted, the flank tucked up, considerable 
pain evinced in moving, and much constitutional irritation. I 
resolved on an operation, and opened the scrotum with a 
lancet, eventually more freely with a bistoury, until I could 
introduce the fingers : no pus or fluid escaped, and the scrotum 
was simply swollen and thickened. I then cast the animal, 
and, having secured him as for castration, explored the parts 
by manipulation as high up as the ring; but there was no 
tumour externally. I endeavoured to make a passage up the 
ring, but it appeared to be plugged up and obliterated. The 
animal was allowed to rise, and prepared for physic. A purge 
operated moderately; the scrotum was dressed with digestives, 
and a profuse discharge of pus ensued for a week or ten days. 
Iodine ointment was applied daily from the flank to the loins 
above the tumour, and small doses of calomel administered till 
