tiie 
VETERINARIAN. 
VO No'.44i XVI1 ' SEPTEMBER, 1864. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 117. 
Communications and Cases. 
OBSERVATIONS ON CASTRATION BY TORSION. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
On a recent visit to Paris I saw the above-named operation 
performed by M. Rossignol, Jun., on an old stallion belonging 
to the Omnibus company, which had become so vicious that it 
was no longer possible to work him ; hence the reason for the 
operation. The principal instruments for the operation con¬ 
sisted of two large-sized forceps, one straight and the other 
curved, provided with a spring to fix them when applied. 
All being ready, the horse was brought out by the only man 
who could approach him, and, though he was blindfolded, it 
was with the greatest possible difficulty that the hobbles 
were put on, and only so by deceiving him, by the smiths 
who were in the habit of shoeing him holding up the leg and 
pretending to take off the shoe—an operation to which he 
seemed to have no objection. The hobbles on, he was soon 
thrown on his left side, and, being duly secured with the “ side 
line,” M. Rossignol commenced the operation by making an 
incision into the scrotum about eight centimetres in length, 
which laid bare the left testicle. This done, he drew out the 
testicle, and fixed his straight forceps on the cord, as close 
to the inguinal ring as possible. 'The forceps, being made 
secure with the spring, were held by an assistant, while the 
operator fixed the torsian forceps on the cord, about two 
and a half centimetres below the former, and just above the 
epididymis. By twisting the cord the testicle was soon 
severed, which being done, he removed the straight forceps, 
xxxvii. * 37 
