1/0 OSTRICE-FARMING IN SOUTH AFIUCA. 



One of the worst and most awkward wounds the 

 Ostrich-farmer has to deal with, while at the same time 

 one of the commonest^ is that to the lower part of the 

 leg, caused by the bird getting fast in a wire or bush 

 fence, when with its violent struggling it will often 

 tear the flesh away, leaving the bone exposed on both 

 sides. The skin in this part is of such a nature that it 

 can seldom be got to unite, and the principal reliance 

 must be placed on binding up the leg in rags dipped in 

 carbolic oil, and keeping it so bound up for a long time 

 until new flesh forms. But very often some of the 

 principal muscles are severed, or so severely injured 

 that they rot in two, and the bird loses control of its 

 toes and eventually dies. 



We have known a bird that broke its leg low dow^n 

 to have had a wooden leg fitted on, and to live for 

 years ; also a very young chick that broke its leg, to 

 have had it set with splints, and to be reared. But these 

 are such rare exceptions, that, coupled with the immense 

 time that must have been spent over them, they are of 

 no practical value. In all cases of broken legs it is 

 better to kill the bird at oiice. 



Birds have a weak place in their back, a little lower 

 down than the hump, which sometimes gets broken 

 whilst fighting, or by other means ; these then lose 

 the use of their legs, whilst thev continue to feed well 



