246 
CASTRATION IN INDIA. 
In two days, suppuration was established, and the wound 
went on to my entire satisfaction, which became perfectly 
healed in a fortnight, at which time the animal commenced 
his usual work, and has continued to do so up to the present 
time, gaining flesh very fast. 
The calculus is of the shape of a mulberry, and about the 
size of a large walnut. 
ON CASTRATION IN INDIA. 
By Jas. Western, M.R.C.V.S., Horse Artillery, Bangalore. 
My dear Sirs, — I am much pleased to find that Captain 
Hickey has become a contributor to the Veterinarian , and still 
more to see the gentle castigation which he has quietly 
administered to our Indian Vets., which I sincerely hope 
will prove beneficial to them. 
Captain Hickey thinks the reason why they do not write 
more frequently is, that they are afflicted with “ downright 
laziness.” I fear there is some truth in this, for their prac- 
tice is extensive, if not varied, and much of their time their 
own. But the true reason, I believe, is to be found deeper 
than in idleness. In the first place, on this side of India, 
there is no station in which there are two Veterinary Sur- 
geons. The solitary mortal has, therefore, no one to whom 
he can communicate his doubts in dangerous cases, or his 
exultation in successful ones ; and should he be one of the 
worst practitioners that ever left the College, it is of no con- 
sequence, for no one knows it ; while, on the contrary, should 
he be one of the best, the circumstances are the same, for in 
like manner no one knows it nor profits by it. 
Since the departure of the 12th Lancers for the Crimea, 
here have I been one of these solitaries, there not being a 
creature to whom I can open my lips on professional matters 
near me. Is it then, I ask, wonderful that a careless and 
indifferent habit grows upon one? It is not only ordinary 
man that is gregarious, but professional ones are so too. Here 
there are some ten surgeons and assistant-surgeons, having a 
superintending surgeon at their head, who visits at their 
hospitals, examines into their journals, and consults with 
them on their cases. Under such surveillance, the history 
of cases must be kept, and the cases themselves studied, for 
the practitioner is aware of the possibility of a cross-examina- 
tion regarding them by his senior, who possesses the autho- 
