HERNIA AND CASTRATION IN INDIA. 245 
times; I mean those on which you are obliged to operate, or 
which occur during, or as sequelae to, castration. They are un¬ 
satisfactory, because of the very great difficulty of returning the 
mass of intestine which generally descends, before incurable 
inflammation has set in ; for, although you be called to your 
patient with as little delay as possible, you will find that, before 
you can reduce the hernia, the intestine is so much injured by- 
inflammation that recovery is hopeless. I have, however, seen 
cases—few indeed—where, though a portion of the intestine has 
been nearly black, the animal has recovered, and done well; 
one of which was the case E 1072. 
I do not think the age at which a horse is castrated has any 
' effect in causing hernia. 1 mean, I do not think an old horse 
more likely to become ruptured than a young one. On looking 
over the only memorandum I have, I find that of the 285 horses 
referred to below, fifty had adhesions, twenty-five fluid in the 
scrotum, and four became ruptured : of these, twenty-seven that 
adhered were ten years old and upwards; twenty-three that ad¬ 
hered were nine years old and younger; twelve that had water 
were ten years old and upwards; thirteen that had water were 
nine years old and younger; two that became ruptured were ten 
years old and upwards ; and two nine years old and younger. 
The adhesions, I have no doubt, were the consequence of in¬ 
flammatory action, caused in some by kicks or blows, either 
purposely or by accident, while in action, &c. In others, occur¬ 
ring from hernia, from the manipulation requisite for reducing it. 
The fluid in some cases could be detected outwardly, and was, 
perhaps, produced by the same causes. I have never found 
cases of this kind longer in getting well than those which were 
perfectly healthy. 
As relates to the age for castrating, I annex the relative ages 
of 285 horses I have castrated, which I happen to have by me. 
Age. 
No. of Cases 
operated on. 
Age. 
No. of Cases 
operated on. 
20. 
. 1 
Brought up. 
... 89 
19 . 
. 1 
11. 
. .. 9 
18 .. . 
. 1 
10. 
... 22 
17. 
. 6 
9. 
. .. 33 
16 . 
.20 
8. 
...30 
15 . 
. 26 
7 . 
...38 
14. 
. 21 
6. 
...28 
13. 
. 10 
5. 
. .. 25 
12. 
.. 3 
4. 
... 11 
89 
285 
L 1 
VOL. XXV. 
