MODERN FARRIER. 45? 



fnals, as sows, heifers, mares, &c, in order to prevent 

 any future conception, and promote their fattening. 

 It is usually performed by cutting them in the mid- 

 flank, on the left side, with a sharp knife or lancet, 

 in order to extirpate or cut off the parts destined to 

 conception, and then stitching up the wound, anoint- 

 ing the part with tar-salve, and keeping the animal 

 warm for two or three days. The general way is to 

 mak<^ the incision in a sloping manner, two inches 

 and a half long, that the fore-finger may be put in 

 towards tlie back, to feel for the ovaries, .which are 

 two kernals as big as acorns, one on each side of the 

 uterus, one of which being dr2.wn to the w^ound, the 

 cord or string is cut, and thus both taken out. 



Several graziers and farmers have lately adopted 

 the practice of spaying old cows and heifers. Some 

 have suggested the propriety of spaying fillies. An 

 able writer on this subject says, ' The chief reason 

 why a practice, which is beneficial in so many points 

 of view to the interests and advantages of the farmer, 

 has been so little attended to, is the difl^iculty which 

 is constantly experienced from the want of a suffi- 

 cient number of expert and proper persons for per- 

 forming the operation. Such persons are far from 

 being common in any, much less in every district; 

 as some knovv'ledge of a nature which is not readily 

 acquired, and mucli experience in the practice of 

 cutting, are indispensibly necessary to the success of 

 the undertaking. Whenever, however, the utility 

 and benefits of the practice become better under- 

 stood and more fully appreciated by the farmer, and 

 the operators more numerous, much greater atten- 

 tion and importance will be besto\^ ed upon it ; as it 

 is capable of relieving him from much trouble, of 

 greatly promoting his profits, and of benefiting him 

 in a variety of ways. The facts are long since" well 

 proved and ascertained, that animals which have 

 undergone this operation, are m.ore disposed to feed 

 or take on flesh, more quiet in their habits, and ca- 

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