114 
Translations and Reviews of Continental 
Veterinary Journals. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
REVIEW. 
Traite de la Castration des Animaux domestiques. Par M. 
Gourdon, Docteur en Medecine, chef des travaux d’Ana- 
tomie et de Chirurgie a Eecole imperiale Veterinaire de 
Toulouse. 
A TRExiTISE ON THE CASTRATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
This is the most complete work on this important subject 
that has yet been published. The author traces the his¬ 
tory of the operation up to the Pentateuch, and follows it 
through Egyptian civilisation to the Greeks and Latins, 
Plinius and the authors of the Roman Empire, the history 
of the dark and middle ages, down to the present time. 
There is no writing during these remote periods that he has 
not examined, and he records whatever is of use or in¬ 
structive. 
The anatomy of the parts to be operated on, being of the 
first importance, is accurately described, and illustrated by 
woodcuts, in which are correctly represented the tunics of 
the testicles, the cord, the spermatic gland and its connexions, 
the posterior septum, on which the ramifications of the artery 
terminate, the inguinal ring, where it is often necessary to 
introduce the knife in case of hernia. 
He next considers the age of the animal, the time, and 
season of the year at which it is most convenient for the 
operation to be performed; also the best method of doing it. 
That by the aid of the clams seems to be the safest ; and 
of the two ways, that by the covered testicle is recommended 
by the author, as there is little danger arising from com¬ 
pressing the nerves by this mode. As to its causing tetanus, 
M. Gourdon entertains no fear, since the larger branches of 
the nerve which ramify over the cremaster hardly reach 
those parts, and the compression of the minute branches 
would be productive of little danger. The operation by the 
clams is, however, not without its inconvenience. Scirrhous 
