22 
CASTRATION BY SCRAPING THE CORD. 
I found it necessary to repeat the above draught every 
second morning for four times. The second dose contained 
Ol. Crotonis gtt. xx, the third and fourth Ol. Croton, gtt. xxx, 
Aloe ^iiss; the Ol. Lini was in the same quantity as in first 
draught; and with the last dose the bowels were only slightly 
relaxed. However, suffice it to say the animal ultimately 
recovered. At one time the lungs became so much affected 
that I thought I should have lost my patient, the respira¬ 
tion being so greatly impeded that the owner was for 
having him destroyed, but I was averse to it, as I did not 
wish to lose the opportunity the case afforded me. From the 
time the animal injured his knees till the time of his recovery 
he was kept on succulent but nourishing diet, yet when con¬ 
valescent he was a perfect skeleton. Having recovered a little 
his condition, he was sold some time afterwards to an officer 
of the same regiment, who has him in constant use in this 
station. Since here I was called to attend him, he being the 
subject of a slight attack of gripes. He was then in good 
condition, but there are still to be seen small marks where the 
wounds originally existed. 
ON CASTRATION BY SCRAPING THE CORD. 
i 
By “ A Subscriber.” 
India; October, 1861. 
Gentlemen, —In the Veterinarian for August last there 
is a letter on castration from Mr. Constant, in which he says, 
with reference to the operation by scraping 9 * the cord, “ I 
consider it is attended with too much suffering to the animal, 
while in itself it is a cruel and unscientific method.” I must 
beg leave to differ with him on this subject. I first saw the 
operation performed in this way in March, 1858, and was so 
impressed with its simplicity and satisfactory result that I 
have ever since castrated by scraping, except in cases where I 
find the testicle or cord unusually large or diseased. In the 
healthy subject the whole operation is over in about five 
minutes from the time the animal is firmly secured, and the 
only instruments required are a scalpel and a small knife 
with a serrated edge. Clams are not wanted ; the resistance 
from the cremaster is got rid of by cutting through the pos- 
