258 ON CASTRATION, AND THE CASUALTIES 
The cases first mentioned proceed from something ob¬ 
structing the free discharge of matter; while the other ap¬ 
pears to arise from pressure of the spermatic cord, by apply¬ 
ing the clams too tight; at least, the following case appears to 
be so. 
In the spring of 1831, I gelded a one-year-old half-bred colt, 
the property of Robert Stewart, Esq., Low Bank, Strathearn. 
Being fond of new methods, I applied the caustic clams. The 
case appeared to be doing well till about eight days after the 
operation, when I saw protruding from the scrotal wound a tumour 
about the size of an egg. I suspected that pus might be con¬ 
tained in its centre. It was punctured, and bled plentifully. In 
the course of another eight days I saw it again. It was now 
protruding eight inches from the scrotum, and was, in circum¬ 
ference, about nine inches. Being considerably alarmed at its 
appearance, I advised the proprietor to have the animal thrown, 
and the tumour cut off, and to this he assented. I proceeded to 
open the scrotum, and detach the adhesions which had taken 
place to the surrounding parts; I then cut off the tumour as 
deeply as possible. The hemorrhage was excessive; but I suc¬ 
ceeded in arresting it by the application of the cautery. The re¬ 
maining portion of the cord was destroyed, as far as it could be, 
by firing it with a hollow iron in the form of a cup. A healthy 
suppurative process now began, and in a few days the cure was 
complete. 
The excised portion of cord was examined after the operation. 
Its arteries were greatly enlarged in caliber; the part where the 
clams had been fixed was cartilaginous, and the cellular mem¬ 
brane, both above and below, was fast approaching to the same 
state. In the newly formed part of the tumour, the arterial 
ramifications were exceedingly numerous; and if the tumour 
had not been cut off', it might have grown to a very large size, 
and, probably, would have destroyed the animal. 
• Another case of diseased cord came under my notice in the 
same year. Ligatures had here been used in tying the arteries, 
and the cords did not protrude out of the scrotum. I advised 
the excision of the cords, but in this I was overruled by the 
country gelders and farriers of the neighbourhood. The animal 
gradually sunk in condition; the sheath became enormously 
swollen, with numerous fistulous openings upon its surface ; and 
the colt died in three months after the operation. 
Another very bad case came under treatment in the summer 
of 1833. The colt belonged to Mr. Thomas Kirkwood, of Drum- 
buoy. It w'as three weeks after it was gelded before I saw the 
animal. 1 felt the cords in the same hardened state as in the 
