THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXVII, 
No. 324. 
DECEMBER, 1854. 
Third Series, 
No. 84. 
ON CASTRATION OF CAVALRY HORSES. 
By J. T. Hodgson. 
A pamphlet was put into my hand in 181 6 , “ On Cas- 
tration of Cavalry Horses/ 5 by Lieut. W. Dickson, 6th B. N. 
C. (assistant to the late Mr. Moorcroft), who, being promoted 
to a majority, could no longer hold the situation, and, after 
the latter gentleman’s death, those above the rank of major 
could not be a superintendent. It is difficult to understand 
what conventional notions of rank had to do with the suc- 
cessful breeding and rearing of horses, camels, and bullocks ; 
seeing that from the Prince to the tenant-farmer, we here 
compete with each other for prizes at agricultural cattle 
shows. That scientific farmer, Mr. Me chi, whose town house 
of business is in Leadenhall Street, said, 6i his balance sheet 
last year showed a gain of £600 on the cattle account.” 
What a pity we do not see his near neighbours in the same 
street, among other great personages, taking a few hints at 
a Tiptree Hall gathering. Then we might not see such a 
balance sheet of the stud-farms in India as that exhibited in 
your journal for September last, p. 500, by Mr. V. Nelson, 
V.S., with whom I agree, that the qualifications* * of individuals 
* Breeder, dealer, trainer, jockey, stud>groom, farrier, often supersede 
the veterinary surgeon, who is called in when they cannot do any longer 
without. Instances of this we have lately had. When Mr. J. Scott’s cha- 
racter was in the balance, Mr. Mavor, Y.S., was trundled down to Yorkshire 
by rail, to look at Acrobat’s leg, and glad, no doubt, was Mr. Scott to see Mr. 
Mavor, and hear him decide “ that the fibres of the suspensory ligament 
had been injured.” When Shertz’s age was disputed, Mr. Barrow, Y.S., 
was called in, who “ declared his mouth all right.” Prizes too have been 
given to veterinary surgeons by Agricultural Societies for essays on various 
subjects. The qualifications of a dealer have superseded the comprehensive 
knowledge necessary in the individual to be Principal Veterinary Surgeon 
to the Army, yet the “ very important duty in Turkey” is only a part of 
xxvii. 85 
