MEMOIR ON THE CASTRATION OF THE HORSE. 105 
after birth is favourable in all points of view ; deprivation of the 
testicles abstracting nothing from the development of the animal. 
4. Indeed, the conformation becomes improved by it, especially 
of such horses as are desired to serve double purposes, or that 
are intended for the army. Their fore quarters are rendered 
lighter by it, their muscular energy in no manner diminished, their 
character made milder. 
5. Their rearing, their breaking, their training, rendered easier ; 
neither exists there any apprehension of premature fecundation, 
bastardizing produce and breed ; nor fear of accidents such as 
happen to or from entire colts. 
6. The preferable method of procedure at the age at which we 
recommend castration is by ligature. The youthhood of the ani- 
mal, the little development of the cords, the rudimentary condition 
of the organs themselves, the simplicity of the means, all conduce 
to favour its adoption. 
7. In the employment of ligature, prudence dictates procedure 
by the covered operation (a testicles couverts), and the precaution 
of passing the ligature through the cord. By this twofold pre- 
caution hernia is avoided, and haemorrhage prevented. 
8. The accidents by which it is possible for such an operation 
to be followed are rare, in consequence, we repeat, of the age of 
the subject, of the proceeding adopted, and of the guarantee it pre- 
sents. For the most part, such accidents are easily remediable 
when they do occur. Considering their paucity and their trivial 
nature, there is no comparison between the method we propose 
and the methods practised by castrators in general. 
Repertoire de Medecine Veterinaire, Bruxelles , April 1849. 
*** We recommend the suggestions contained in the above 
corollary to the consideration of our veterinary surgeons practising 
in breeding parts of the country. — E d. Vet. 
Home Extracts. 
On the Management of Farm Horses. 
By W. C. Spooner. 
(Continued from p. 44.) 
2 . — Breeding and Rearing. 
THERE is no branch of a farmer’s business to which so little 
attention is generally paid as that of breeding. It is often 
regarded as a matter of chance whether the produce will turn out 
