Animal Castration

"Animal Castration" by Alexandre François Augustin Liautard is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This comprehensive treatise addresses the various methods and implications of castrating domestic animals, arguing for its necessity in both practical and economic terms. The work is a significant reference for veterinarians and those involved in animal husbandry, detailing the historical context, operational techniques, and the physiological effects of castration on different species. At the start of the work, Liautard introduces the topic with a thorough exploration of the concept of castration, explaining its historical significance and the reasons behind its practice. He categorizes the operation into two main types: that which is performed out of necessity, often for health reasons, and that which is done for aesthetic or economic purposes. The opening also delves into the effects of castration on animal behavior, physiology, and even their value in agricultural production, thus establishing the groundwork for a more detailed examination of the procedures and their implications throughout the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alexandre François Augustin Liautard was a French veterinarian. After graduating from the École nationale vétérinaire de Toulouse in 1856, he emigrated to the United States in 1859 to exercise his profession of veterinary practitioner in New York until 1900, when he retired and returned to France. The name of Alexandre Liautard is associated with the beginning of private veterinary education in America. Liautard was the founder and dean of the New York American Veterinary College. He participated in organizing the American Veterinary profession and founded the United States Veterinary Medical Association, now the American Veterinary Medical Association, of which he was for many years a driving force. His name is still cited in the American veterinary press as a dominant figure in the history of the profession for having defined its professional standards and missions, and been a uniting force, and as founder of the American Veterinary Review, now the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).