522 
CASTRATION IN INDIA. 
the horse, in addition to his usual corn and grass : half a 
pound of melted butter, five raw eggs, and two massas of 
opium, daily ; and the horse is led out for exercise morning 
and evening. 
In some few instances, inflammation of the parts has fol- 
lowed the operation ; but it has always given way to the 
necessary treatment, and in no single instance, out of the 
218 operations, has a horse been lost or injured; and the 
patient is, if necessary, ready for work in a very few days 
after the operation, and the natives say, can be employed 
immediately if necessary. 
This method of operation differs considerably from that 
followed by veterinary surgeons, or European farriers ; and 
from the patient being so soon fit for work, and no danger 
whatever following the operation, it is supposed to be a far 
better mode of proceeding than any of the usual ones, for 
the generative glands are at once disorganised, and in the 
course of a few weeks, more or less, completely absorbed, and 
the animal becomes as perfect a gelding as if the testicles had 
been removed by the knife, or by any of the other European 
methods; and as the operation has been performed at all 
ages, from three years upwards, with safety and proper effect, 
and in every case without any preparation, such as bleeding 
or purging, which is required previous to operating by any 
of the European ways, it is to be hoped the adoption of this 
system might be found of considerable advantage to the 
service in general ; and as natives easily become au fail at 
the operation, under the denomination of “ aukta kurna, 5 ’ it 
might, I should suppose, be introduced without any difficulty 
whatever. 
The advantages of the operation are as follow : 
1. The patient requires no preparation. 
2. He is not affected injuriously by the operation, even for a 
time, for he remains lively, takes his food and water freely, 
and stales naturally and without difficulty. 
3. The horse is very speedily fit for work. 
4. No danger whatever follows the operation. 
5. It has been performed at all the ages at which horses 
are in the service. 
6. The effect is as complete as if performed by any of the 
European methods. 
7. But little flesh is lost, and it is more than replaced by 
nature in a few months after the operation. 
8. There is no expense, excepting for ghee, eggs, and 
opium, for a few days, and the little butter and Huldee used 
in the operation. 
