Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries 1-1 (May 2009)

New views on the forfex of Virilis the veterinarian: shears, emasculator or twitch?

Stijn Heeren

Keywords: Archaeology, The Netherlands, veterinary instruments, horse care, twitch, castration, vindolanda tablets, cavalry, roman period, rural settlement.


Abstract
1 Varying interpretations of pairs of pincers
2 Twitch or castration clamp?
2.1 The Aix-en-Provence altar
2.2 The physiology of a horse in relation to castration
2.3 The decorated pincers from London
2.4 Functionality and appearance of the pincers
2.5 Weight of the iron pincers
3 The forfex of Virilis the veterinarian: a twitch
4 Importance
Acknowledgements
Notes
References