535 
THE VETERINARIAN, SEPTEMBER 1, 1854. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — Cicero. 
Mr. Arkcolt/s case, or rather cases, are rare, though not 
so rare probably as may be supposed ; at the same time, 
are replete with interest, and, from the mode in which 
they occur, are rather strange. The act is one with 
animals, we should say was quite contra naturam , and one 
that happened accidentally, or through heedlessness; one 
not so unlikely after all to happen on occasions of disparity 
of size or proportion in the copulating animals ; at the same 
time, an act that was not so unlikely to take place, when the 
blind and furious impetuosity of the animal was manifested, 
such as we often see in them on such occasions. Nothing, 
at such a time, under the influence of a passion so impetuous 
and unrestrainable can resist its attack, everything must give 
way to its ungovernable fury ; nor are we surprised to hear of 
such rents and lacerations as result so often from such acts 
of coition contra naturam. No passion in the animal, who feels 
it but at seasons or times, proves so unrestrainable as the one 
we are speaking of: under its uncontrollable sway, the most re- 
volting and even dangerous effects may, and have taken place. 
And when such lamentable consequences have ensued, what 
is to be done for the reparation of the loss arising from the 
damage done, as well as for the surgical repair of the injured 
parts ? We are afraid, as in the cases we have had tonarrate 
of Mr. Arkcoll’s, that the art of surgery is incompetent to the 
task : that, so far from succeeding in repairing the damage, 
nature sinks under the shock of violence she has received 
and succumbs, exhausted from it, before time be given her 
even to make an effort towards recovery. She is so hurt at 
the unnaturalness, as well as violence of the act, that from 
the first she sinks to rally no more ; and the owner of the male 
aggressor is at once called on to make reparation for the injury 
