158 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE^S FOOT. 
comparatively, in the neurotomised feet of the animals 
experimented upon. 
4. That the variations do not depend upon the period 
of the day, the temperature of the stable, nor upon the taking 
of food. 
5. That the temperature of the skin at the coronet of the 
neurotomised feet exceeds by some degrees that of the healthy 
feet tested at the same part. 
There may be other general influences at work which 
operate in bringing about changes in the amount or character 
of the horn; but these are as yet so obscure or undefined, that 
we cannot touch upon them here. One among them, how¬ 
ever, might be indicated as worthy of attention, from its 
extensive prevalence in this and other countries ; I allude to 
the emasculation of horses. Nothing, so far as I am aware, 
has been noted of the effects of this operation on the secretion 
of horn in this animal; though, judging from its results in other 
creatures, it can scarcely be doubted that it must engender some 
modification.* For instance, if a fallow-buck, with antlers, 
he castrated, they are shed earlier than usual, and by a more 
active absorbent process, which leaves an irregular concavity 
at the base: the antlers that are subsequently developed are 
small, seldom branched, retain the “ velvet ” longer than 
usual, and become thickened by irregular tuberculate masses 
of bone. If a young buck be castrated before it has “ put 
up ” antlers, it does afterwards in some instances develop 
them; but of reduced size and abnormal shape, retaining 
* In an ancient Arabic treatise on the Horse and its Diseases, entitled 
c Le Naceri,’ and admirably translated by M. Perron (Paris, 1860), it is 
reported that Hizam presented a splendid horse to the Caliph El-Moute- 
wakkal (who was assassinated in the year 247 of the Hegira = a.d. 861). 
This horse had thin, weak hoofs. “My dear Hizam,” says the Caliph, “I 
would like this horse very much if it had good hoofs.” Hizam took away the 
animal, called in a veterinary surgeon, and desired him to throw the animal 
on the ground and castrate it. The operation was performed, and the horse 
was carefully attended for four months until it was completely cured, and 
in excellent health and superb condition. After this it was again presented 
to El-Moutewakkal. The hoofs were in a perfect state as to shape and 
quality. “Allah!” exclaimed the Caliph; “inform me, Hizam, by what 
means thou hast restored the hoofs of this horse.” “ Prince of Believers,” 
replied Hizam, “that which thou didst say to me suggested an idea. I had 
remarked that the young Boumaniote stallions and others in the stables of 
the Prince of Believers had their hoofs small and light, and that the castrated 
horses had, on the contrary, large strong hoofs, although they were all 
descended from the same stock. I inferred from this that the difference in 
the latter was due to their being emasculated, and I therefore had this horse 
operated upon. Consequently its hoofs are now excellent.” The Caliph 
was profuse in his felicitations, and gave Hizam a valuable present.—Yol. 
iii, p. 240. 
