242 HERNIA AND CASTRATION IN INDIA. 
degree of vascularity and vitality in the prepuce. And, lastly, 
the almost total impossibility of keeping the dog from rubbing 
and irritating the part. These together proved an effectual 
preventive to the union of the divided edges of the sheath. 
The penis being, almost constantly for the first few days, in 
a state of priapism, although, in addition to the muzzle, his legs 
were tied, the dog still contrived to keep up such an amount of 
irritation as rendered all efforts to gain this object abortive: 
portions of the sheath sloughing off from time to time, left the 
greater part of the penis exposed. With this exception, all was 
well enough when I saw the animal in January last. 
As this circumstance has rendered the dog unsightly, and will 
deprive him of many of the privileges he has enjoyed, such as 
his visits to the house, and so forth, it must be considered 
desirable, in any future case, to endeavor to prevent such a 
termination. 
If a smaller incision had been made over the root of the 
principal polypus, more complete success would probably have 
ensued; but then the other two germs would, most likely, not 
have been detected and destroyed, and would doubtlessly have 
become, at no distant period, causes of further annoyance. It 
becomes a question, then, “ of two evils, which is the least V* 
Whether to have waited for their growth, and then to have 
removed them, would have been the lesser, or, the course 
pursued. 
Polypi, I believe, although common in the practice of the 
surgeon, are very uncommon in that of the veterinary surgeon. 
Dogs, perhaps, are more subject to them than horses or cattle. 
Blaine in his Canine Pathology, under this head, says, “ I have 
seen them in the nose, within the uterus, and within the sheath 
of the penis, as well as pendant from other parts also ; but by 
much the most usual situation in which polypi are found is 
within the sheath or vagina of the bitch.” 
HERNIA AND CASTRATION IN INDIA. 
By T. Hurford, V.S. to the 15th King's Hussars. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Sir, — In p. 416, vol. ii, Ilippopathology, you say, under 
“ Hernia”—in allusion to the presence of hernia in castration 
—“ and this, should he have done his duty in examining the 
animal beforehand, may generally be guarded against, or not 
encountered.” 
I confess I do not understand how, and should be very glad 
to be informed. I have operated on a very great number of 
