372 
STRANGULATION OF THE INTESTINES. 
The question arises, Is this affection produced from any 
particular mode of castration ? My father has castrated 
animals in the same way as taught him by his father for 
forty-five years, and has never had one case among those he 
has operated upon, although he has been called to several 
which had been operated upon by other persons. 
The calf which i have alluded to was not castrated by 
him, nor was the two-year-old steer, the subject of this com- 
munication, by either of us, which tends to prove that cas- 
tration has to do with its production, these cases having 
occurred in our district. I had, until recently, supposed that 
the spermatic artery, on being drawn at until it ruptures, in 
the operation of castration, might recede into the abdomen, 
and hanging loose, afterwards strangulate the intestines by 
getting around them, but I feel convinced this is not the cause. 
STRANGULATION OF INTESTINES OF THE OX. 
A REPLY TO MR. COUCIIMAN’S REMARKS. 
By Vincent Vine, M.R.C.V.S., Wilmington. 
In the number of the Veterinarian for May, I find a 
letter from Mr. T. Couchman, of Wadhurst, in which he 
comments on a case of strangulation of the intestines of the 
ox, which you did me the favour to insert in your December 
number of last year. Mr. Couchman says, 44 my (his) 
practice has led me to doubt whether strangulation of the 
intestines of the ox really does arise from such a cause as is 
usually assigned, namely , that of a cord connected with the 
pelvis passing either under or around a portion of the 
bowel.” Further on he adds, 44 I have seen many animals 
which have presented the symptoms described as being 
characteristic of c gut- tie,’ which have recovered on the 
exhibition of purgative and stimulating agents combined, 
and I should like to have known whether this treatment had 
been tried and had failed in Mr. Vine’s case?” 
I am, perhaps fortunately, spared the necessity of attempt- 
ing to convince Mr. Couchman of the occurrence of these 
cases, as it singularly happens that in the Veterinarian 
for the past month a case is published by Mr. Walker, of 
Rugby, the morbid parts of which were sent to the College, 
and were brought before the notice of the whole class and 
commented upon by one of yourselves, just as I was on the 
eve of presenting myself for examination for my diploma. 
