INDIAN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
569 
matters. My excuse is my fondness for the profession ; for 
although not one of you, I have studied the art theoretically 
and practically since I was a boy, and hope some of these 
days, when I return to Europe, to get a diploma from your 
College. 
Being in the mounted branch (irregular) of this service for 
the last eight years, I have had a very large practice. There 
are 595 horses in each regiment of irregular cavalry. These 
horses are the private property of the troopers themselves. 
The state neither buys, feeds, clothes, nor (i doctors” them ; 
and as the natives have but little knowledge of the diseases 
or curative treatment of horses, there is, as you may imagine, 
a great mortality amongst them. Whether in the field or in 
cantonments, all the hard work falls on our regiments, con- 
sequently our i£ sick lines ” are generally full. Colic, enteri- 
tis, pneumonia, catarrh, strangles, fistulous withers, and 
bruised feet are the chief diseases and ailments, with now 
and then a case of paraplegia. 
We have as many mares in the regiment as horses, and it 
is astonishing to see how v 7 ell they work together. Now and 
then, I have to castrate a rampant colt or two. Talking of 
castration, this puts me in mind of the “ official correspon- 
dence” I saw in a late number of the Veterinarian regarding 
a diabolical method of emasculation that obtained in the 
Poonah Irregular Horse. This method is the only one the 
natives ever use in gelding their cattle, but it is a most cruel 
and barbarous operation. I have castrated upwards of 1000 
horses since 1846, of every age , size, ancl caste , and in every 
season of the year , and I am proud to say I lost but one, and 
that one was an aged carriage horse belonging to my uncle 
the late General Gilbert. 
My plan, which of course is nothing new, is this. After 
throwing the animal in the usual way on his near side, I 
draw his off hind leg up to his shoulder, grasp the scrotum 
tightly with my left hand, and with the scalpel in the right 
make a free incision, laying bare the gland ; slip the testicle 
out, sever the vas deferens, apply the patent steel clams, 
cut off the testicle, and slightly touch the artery and veins 
with a hot iron, and then release the cord. These things 
being repeated on the remaining testicle, the animal is 
released. I seldom, if ever, give the horse any preparation 
beyond stopping his corn for two days previous, and two 
subsequent to the operation. From the day he is cut, he 
is taken out for walking exercise, morning and evening, and 
in ten days he, if a regimental horse, rejoins the ranks. 
Concerning “ Rursautee,” I have never yet seen that vile 
