CORRESPONDENCE. 
i43 
that some have, of making slight wounds of the peritoneum of the 
horse, so decided to puncture the colon—enterotomy as called by 
some. Not having an aspirator, nor even a trocar and canula handy, but 
my largest hypodermic syringe and needle in my pocket, with the latter 
I perforated the colon at its most prominent part in two different places, 
letting free a large amount of gas, and giving great relief, then follow¬ 
ing with the usual treatment to arrest further fermentation. There 
has not been the first unfavorable symptom, not even the slightest 
amount of local soreness from first to last, the animal, at present writing, 
being quite well. 
CASTRATION OF CRIPTORCHIDS. 
By E. Mink, V. S., Rochester, N. Y. 
To the Editor of the American Veterinary Review : 
Sir :—With a feeling in common with many others, that the Veter¬ 
inary Profession had met with a soft impeachment from members of its 
own household, I noticed the fulsome praise that was lately bestowed 
upon Mr. J. C. Miles of Charleston, Illinois, (not only by Wilkes Spirit 
of the Times, but also by Veterinarians of good repute), as a marvel¬ 
ously skilful operator in the specialty of castrating cryptorchids. The 
wonder and originality, which is attached and attributed to his opera¬ 
tions, indicates a considerable lack of veterinary knowledge, as well as 
a humiliating concession that the veterinary profession lacks operators 
of originality and boldness,—which in fact is not the case, and is an in¬ 
justice to the veterinary profession, by withholding the facts and credit^ 
due to some of its members for the originalty, and to others for putting 
the system in practice of removing testicles from the abdomen of the 
horse, by way of the abdominal ring, inguinal canal and scrotum. I 
have no disposition to withhold from Mr. Miles any credit that may be 
due him for originality, if he never heard of the method before he com¬ 
menced the practice of it. I gladly concede, that much credit is due 
him for putting the system alluded to in extensive practice, and by so 
doing, contributing his share of proof, that it is not so dangerous to 
castrate cryptorchids in the manner described, as in other methods 
which have occasionally been resorted to, and that the danger of this 
method is not so great as to forbid its general practice. 
