WOUNDS. 171 



and in other ways appear all right, but of course, they 

 eventually die. 



Birds will often get a piece of bone stuck in the 

 throat, generally one of the joints of the backbone 

 of a sheep or goat. It can often be forced back 

 and taken out of the mouth again ; but sometimes 

 a sharp point will penetrate the flesh, and it cannot be 

 moved either way ; then an incision must be made in 

 the throat (carefully avoiding the comparatively hard 

 wind-pipe, which can easily be felt), and the bone taken 

 out. Before making the incision, the skin should be 

 drawn on one side, so that after the operation the 

 incisions in the skin and in the flesh come in different 

 places ; this, Avhen the skin is sewn together, greatly 

 assists the excluding of the air from the wound, and its 

 consequently rapid healing. There is no danger in the 

 operation if done carefully. Of broken wings we have 

 treated in the chapter on " The Ostrich.^' 



