286 
THE SEQUELAE OF CASTRATION. 
clear red colour, that was particularly evident when compared 
with either the superior or inferior columns of the cervical portion, 
where the colour is grey, with the slightest hue of red. 
This would lead us to believe, that in the greater number of 
these rachidian ramollissements , the change commences in the grey 
substance. The greater vascularity of the substance would give 
greater probability to this supposition, and especially if we ad¬ 
mit, with M. Bouley, that these softenings are often the' con¬ 
sequence of congestion, or of sanguineous spinal apoplexy. 
The last case appears to be peculiarly worthy of attention, 
because, the examination having taken place immediately after 
death, the softening of the muscles, and of the spinal cord 
could not be attributed to any process of decomposition, or to 
any post-mortem change. 
E. R. 
The Result of the Castration of Two Thousand 
Horses in the French Cavalry, in 1830-31. 
By M. Texier. 
My situation, as veterinary surgeon, having given me the 
opportunity, in 1830-31, of observing many unpleasant results of 
castration, I am not willing that certain facts worthy of the 
attention of practitioners should be lost. 
From the beginning of December 1830 to April 1831, I re¬ 
ceived for my regiment at Evreux about 2900 horses, 2000 of 
which were castrated. The operation was performed with the 
clams, in the covered way, on the morning after they were 
received, at the expence of the contractors, and by a gelder pro¬ 
vided by them. 
We received 20, 25, and sometimes 30 horses daily. 
The air was almost always cold and damp. The stables in 
which the horses were placed had belonged to the ancient con¬ 
vent of St. Sauveur. I believe that they were once merely 
caves. They were low, and their floors were lower than the 
surrounding ground. The horses that were castrated were from 
five to seven years old. They were all submitted to a regimen 
suited to the condition in which they were, and the clams were 
removed by the gelder himself at the expiration of eight-and- 
forty hours. 
Out of the 2000 horses thus castrated, 200 experienced illness 
or accidents more or less severe; but there was a great resem¬ 
blance between the symptoms of all of them. 
In general, suppuration was established on the third or fourth 
day. There were not more than a dozen exceptions to this, and 
