I 
474 
VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY, Nov. 12. 
Mr. J. Field, Jun. in the Chair. , 
MR. W. GOODWIN read a paper on the different modes of 
castration, which we have the pleasure of inserting in this number. 
It produced a desultory, but very useful discussion. The opinion 
of the majority of the meeting was in favour of the clams; but the 
uncovered way was accounted the simplest, and the least painful 
and dangerous. One gentleman alone spoke in favour of the old 
operation with the cautery. 
The caustic was supposed materially to expedite the effect of 
the clams, and the testicles were generally left until they sponta¬ 
neously separated. - 
Few of the gentlemen present could be brought to approve of 
the continental mode, of considerable, or even severe, exercise, after 
the operation. 
The division of the vas deferens, as a substitute for castration, 
was discussed, and several gentlemen promised to institute ex¬ 
periments on the subject. Mr. Mayo related a case in which the 
vas deferens did not reach the urethra, but was reflected back on 
the testes; yet there seemed to be no deficiency of generative power. 
The modes of castrating other animals were spoken of: the tear¬ 
ing of the spermatic vessels in the bull by English, and the twist¬ 
ing of them by continental, surgeons. Castration in the lamb, by 
tearing the cord, and in the ram by the cautery, and the uniform 
use of the ligature in the dog. 
