American Veterinary Review, 
DECEMBER, 1877 . 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
THE CASTRATION OF COWS. 
By C. Schmidt, District Veterinarian, Hofgeismer, Germany. 
From the German, by F. S. Billings. 
Original to be found in Archiv. fur Thuthielkunde , Berlin, Vol. 2, 1876. 
-C6G- 
I have been long in debate whether to give a complete translation 
of the above or not, but upon undertaking to make a review of the same, 
there seemed so little that could well be left out, that I felt obliged to 
give the whole, even at the cost of valuable time. The importance of 
the question is self-evident. 
The operation of ovariotomy was mentioned in the 16th century 
by Bartholini, as being performed in Denmark, with the aim of a quicker 
or more complete fattening of the animals, and it was also in vogue with 
the same end in view about the middle of the 18th century (Britz) in 
Saxony, and towards the end of’the same in Sweden (Retzius). Ac¬ 
cording to Viborg, it was also known in Jutland about the same time; 
it then passed into forgetfulness for a long time, until 1830, when it was 
again introduced to public notice, and much lauded, as occasioning a 
greater yield of milk per diem, by Wynn, an American; by Levrat, of 
Lausanne; Regene, of Bordeaux, and Marin, of Laugonet, who found 
many supporters. The operation was also frequently performed in 
Schwabia about this time, with the idea that the animals became more 
rapidly and completely fattened, and that the flesh was more delicate. 
Old castrated cows were known as “ Queens.” 
From this time until 1850 the operation was now and again per¬ 
formed, the aim of the operation being as mentioned, a greater yield of 
