114 WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
It was proposed by Mr. IF. Anderson , seconded by Mr. 
Dunlop, and agreed to, that the names of those who had 
at the first meeting signed their names as members of the 
Society, and who had failed to pay their entry-money, should 
be erased from the list; and if at any future time they should 
wish to become members of the Society, that they be proposed 
and balloted for in the usual manner. 
Mr. Robinson said, that as the Society was in such a 
flourishing state, with every prospect of continuing so, and 
with a little exertion on the part of the members, capable of 
great extension, he would propose that the Rules of the 
Society be revised, printed, and circulated among the mem¬ 
bers. Mr. W. Anderson seconded the motion. 
Mr. McKirdy proposed, as an amendment, that the revised 
rules be brought before the next General Meeting of the 
Society for their approval before being printed and circulated. 
Mr. Dunlop seconded the amendment, when Mr. Robinson 
withdrew his motion, and the amendment was agreed to. 
No further business being brought before the meeting, 
the Chairman introduced the subject chosen for discussion, 
viz.: Castration. 
After enumerating the various methods resorted to for the 
performance of that operation; he stated the different modes 
he had himself adopted; and, in conclusion, said that he had 
resorted to the method of compression, by means of the 
caustic clams, as the most safe and easy way of perform¬ 
ing it. 
Mr. W. Anderson hoped that if any person present had 
been unfortunate in the performance of the operation of 
castration, he would state the same, and also what he con¬ 
sidered was the cause. He likewise stated that in using the 
caustic clams, if the cremaster muscle was divided, the end 
of the cord hung too far down, and an enlargement was very 
apt to take place from effusion, which often required the 
operation, in a manner, to be performed over again, so as 
to get the enlarged part of the cord removed. 
Mr.Herriot stated that he was in the habit of using the caustic 
clams for a great number of years, and he got on well enough 
until he used screws in the end of the clams, and applied, as 
he considered, too much pressure; at least that was the only 
way in which he could account for the number of deaths 
that took place; for, after he resorted to the old method of 
tving the clams, he was as fortunate as he used to be before 
the application of the screws. 
M uch discussion took place on the use of caustic with the 
clams, and the results of several experiments showed that 
the operation could be performed as well without the caustic 
