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4 
F. MAURI. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
CASTRATION OF CRYPTORCHIDS. 
By Professor F. Mauri, of the Veterinary School of Toulouse, France. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Cryptorchidy in horses, as an abnormal condition, be¬ 
comes a serious matter by reason of the great depreciation in 
money value of the animals which are affected with it. It is 
accompanied with an ugly disposition, which at times renders 
their temper uncontrollable, and becomes the cause of great * 
difficulties and serious dangers for those who have them in 
charge. Excited by the presence of other animals bf their 
own species, either male or female, the ridgling becomes ner¬ 
vous and noisy, rears and kicks, resists control, makes vio¬ 
lent attacks upon other animals, and exposes himself by his 
excitement to numerous accidents. Unable to satisfy his 
sexual desire, he often vents his rage upon his driver, who 
cannot always protect himself, attacking him with foot and 
tooth, and ordinarily in the most treacherous manner. At 
times it is sufficient for his keeper to have merely touched 
other horses or mares before approaching him, to excite him 
suddenly into a copulative rage. He snorts fiercely, jerking 
himself, and whinnying with the peculiar and characteristic 
tone of the animal under sexual desire, bends his neck con¬ 
vulsively, strikes out with his fore feet, and often, unless he 
be held firmly and shortly in hand, rushes furiously up n his 
keeper. It is true that sometimes he can be kept under con¬ 
trol by excessive work and low diet, but he is always to 
be held under suspicion, and his intermittent and sudden 
outbreaks of aggressive temper are always to be feared after 
the enjoyment of a few days of rest or liberal feeding. Horses 
in the south of France are peculiarly dangerous on account 
of their force and energy, and the quickness and suddenness 
of their movements. Hence their comparatively low value, 
and the difficulty met with in disposing of them by sale. The 
fact of the testicular ectopia depreciates a horse by an aver- 
