I 
614 TAIT BUTLER. 
few isolated cases, of which the work by Liautard is an exam¬ 
ple. But even “ Animal Castration,” by that eminent veter¬ 
inarian, is in reality little more than a compilation of the 
opinions and practice of European operators; and although I 
have a high opinion of its author both as a gentleman and 
scientific veterinarian, yet justice compels me to admit that it is 
a work by no means abreast of the times and in many parts 
indicates a lack of practical experience on the part of its 
author. 
In order to avoid occupying too much of your valuable 
time, I shall in this paper confine myself to a consideration of 
castration and its results in the horse. 
Castration of the Normal Male Horse . 
Opinions, even of experienced operators, differ in regard to 
the age of a horse which best fits him to withstand the opera¬ 
tion and at the same time yield the best economic results to 
his owner. In my opinion the light harness horse should be 
castrated at two years old, in order to aid a development in 
harmony with his purposes of life. If castrated at an earlier 
age, lack of neck and shoulder development is the result, 
while if allowed to carry his testicles longer, a development of 
the neck disproportionate with that of the other parts takes 
place, thereby impairing his beauty and economic value. 
Keeping in view the same object, namely, the production 
of an animal best fitted for his purposes in life, the draft horse 
may be castrated at one or two years old, but preferably at 
the former age. For, owing to the purposes for which he is 
used, his value is enhanced by a large body development, and 
especially is a full development of the hind quarters desirable. 
However, in my opinion, the age of the animals is an un¬ 
important factor in the production of the death-rate from this 
operation. If the operation be properly performed, with anti¬ 
septic precautions, the death-rate will be little, if any, larger 
among animals ten years old than among those of a much 
younger age. Of course, if an animal be so old that his phy¬ 
sical vigor is declining, he will not be so well fitted to with¬ 
stand any operation, but, other things being equal, the opera- 
