THE INTESTINE, IN CASTRATION. 
7 
proves too much, for it is rather in excess to say, that aloes 
and gentian will not purge, but that the common cordial 
mass, or gentian and ginger, will. This is far too rich 
However, I am not going to worry you with the old story: 
satisfied of the truth of my position, I continue to avail 
myself of it in my own practice. 
I am going to tell you of a case which is unique in my 
practice ; it is a case of castration. One of our officers 
bought at Trichinopoly a Cape Horse, and a few days 
after noticed an enlarged scrotum. Continuing to get larger, 
he sent him to Bangalore for my opinion, and for castration, 
if I thought fit. I said no : the horse had hernia with hydro- 
cele ; and when I saw him the scrotum was an enormous size. 
I tried iodine, internally and externally, but could produce no 
effect. After a time, the officer, who was on Court Martial 
duty, returned ; and after deliberation, as the horse was use- 
less in his present state, he begged of me to operate. I 
consented, on condition that the horse was to be immediately 
destroyed if I thought proper. I prepared the horse, and 
arranged to operate on a certain day ; but, as luck would have 
it, a brigade day was ordered, and his owner could not be 
present, which saved the animal’s life ; for I would not delay 
the operation ; but, having cast and secured him on his back, I 
commenced. The testicle was wasted ; but I found I had been 
right in my prognosis : a large volume of intestine was pro- 
truded. As the owner was not present, I did not like to shoot 
the poor beast. The ring was so large I found no difficulty 
in returning the intestine, but much in keeping it returned. 
However, two large pledgets of tow, a claw put on high up, 
and sutures in the scrotum, did it. I also removed the other. 
I was of course obliged to watch him narrowly, to bleed him 
twice, to use belladonna freely, and other means, w 7 hich, as I 
keep no register of officer’s horses cases, I cannot enter into 
more minutely ; suffice it to say, the animal is quite re- 
covered, and during the process of healing had no untoward 
symptoms. 
This is a curious case to me, for I have cut many hundreds 
of horses, and know of no other like it, Had the owner 
been there, I should have had the brute shot ; for I con- 
sidered the case hopeless. Although not given to despair 
generally, it has been a lesson to me, to persevere against 
hope. 
So there is the object of my writing : if it be of any use to 
the Veterinarian , I shall be very glad, and if not, I can only 
regret I have nothing better worth your pages. I have had 
lots of sickness, — fevers, &c. &c., but nothing out of the 
