ON CASTRATION. 
257 
having a good deal of wit and humour in his composition, was 
able to prolong the conversation without a smile , at length he 
asked “ the farrier” what he would recommend, when professional 
aid could not be immediately called in, in a case where the 
f< vital spark was extinct .” The farrier looked more seuous than 
usual, and said “ the case was a bad one , very bad one , but he 
would recommend to bleed f reely , and send for him as soon as 
possible!!!” Now, Messieurs Editors, this was too rich: my 
hand almost refused to convey my last glass of wine to my lips, 
my sides were convulsed, and it was with difficulty I decently 
escaped from the room to enjoy a hearty fit of laughter. Yet, 
with all this well-known ignorance, this same fellow has an ex¬ 
cellent practice, and his charges are higher than the regular ve¬ 
terinary surgeon. 
ON CASTRATION, AND THE CASUALTIES ATTEND¬ 
ING THE OPERATION. 
By Mr. Thompson, V.S., Beith , N.B. 
Among the numerous difficulties which the country veteri¬ 
narian has to encounter there are none that hurt his character 
or blast his reputation more than a case of unsuccessful gelding. 
He has a colt of more or less value put into his hands, perfectly 
sound and healthy. He performs the operation on the most 
scientific principles ; every thing appears to be going on well; 
very little swelling is observable; a slight discharge of matter 
from the wound takes place; and in the usual time the wounds 
are nearly healed : but, occasionally, a great degree of swelling 
and inflammation, unexpectedly to the owner, now commences : 
the legs become stiff and swollen ; the anasarca extends along 
the belly and chest; the spermatic cords are more or less en¬ 
laced ; an extensive suppuration takes place, which bursts 
generally about the flank \ and with some trouble to the piac- 
titioner, and some grumbling from the owner, the animal, al¬ 
though much debilitated, generally recovers. 
In other cases, which are comparatively more rare, instead of 
a healthy suppurative process, fistulous sinuses form. The whole 
spermatic chords, scrotum, and sheath, are converted into a 
hardened scirrhous mass. The animal sinks rapidly in condi¬ 
tion; and fistulous abscesses are, probably, bursting in various 
parts of the sheath. In this condition the colt may suivive^ for 
months, until wasted to a skeleton. Inflammation of the peii- 
toneum succeeds, effusion takes place both in and under the 
belly, and the patient, now sunk beyond recovery, soon dies. 
