MEMOIR ON THE CASTRATION OF THE HORSE. 103 
exact compression, pinching the epididymis or the skin, inflam- 
mation set up in the wound, adhesions the consequence of this, all 
become so many causes of untoward results from castration with 
the clams, whether performed with covered or uncovered testicles, 
such as oedema; peritonitis, champignion (fungous enlargement of 
the cord), scirrhus of the cord, fistulae, tetanus. 
Cauterization has recently been withdrawn, from the oblivion 
into which it had sunk on account of the accidents that had befallen 
it ; such as inflammation of the cord, gangrene, and haemorrhage, 
though in some hands such results have been avoided. 
BlSTOURNAGE. — Twisting of the cord is frequently enough prac- 
tised in the south of France on colts from two to four years of age. 
The operation cannot be performed earlier than this, from the tes- 
ticles not having sufficiently descended to give grasp enough for 
the hand. The first consideration is enough for us to reject such 
an operation. And the only reason why we are induced to say 
any thing further about it here, is, to communicate to our brethren 
what we have learnt respecting an operation but little known and 
less practised by veterinary surgeons. 
Bistournage, practised upon horses, belongs to the province of 
gelders by profession, though their practice in this respect is daily 
falling off in proportion as early castration is gaining ground. And 
this is not a little aided by the efforts we ourselves are making to 
bring about this preferable practice. 
We have seen gelders operate in this way. They say nothing, 
explain nothing, about what they do. They do not know them- 
selves, indeed. “ The testicles must be seized at the passage.” 
This is all we have comprehended and seen. A vast difference in 
this respect exists between operating on bulls and horses. 
The colt being cast upon his back, the first object of the very 
violent and painful manipulations they execute is to break through, 
not the adhesions between the testicle and its envelopes, but the 
connexion subsisting between the gland and the epididymis. This 
is effected by the thumb. But should that fail in force, they make 
use of a stick. They do not often succeed but under considerable 
time, nor without extensively excoriating the scrotum. The sepa- 
ration effected, the cord becomes elongated, and the gland quite 
loose : its position being now changed, from being placed hori- 
zontally within the scrotum to suspension, lengthwise, within it, as 
the testicle naturally is in the bull. Now it is that torsion is com- 
menced without any previous up-and-down motion of the testicle, 
as in the case of the bull. The torsion affects not the entire length 
of the cord, but simply the tissue joining the testicle and epididy- 
mis. In this manner several twists are made, the testicle being 
held between the thumb and fingers with much address and dex- 
