Chapter XXVlll. 



Dishorning- Preventing 

 Growth of Horns. 



"Dishorning. 



Accidental dishorning occurs occasionally, and is very 

 alarming. I have had two cases in my experience. In 

 one of these the goat got its horns caught in the iron bars 

 of a hay rack, and in its attempts to free itself gave a 

 sudden wrench, which detached the shell, or case, from 

 the core. This core, when thus exposed, had very much 

 the appearance of the fleshy, or edible, part of the claw 

 of a boiled lobster. It was a bright red, being covered 

 with blood, which trickled rapidly down the face of the 

 goat, presenting a horrible appearance. I was recom- 

 mended by a neighbouring farmer, to whom I applied for 

 advice on the matter, to smear the horn with tar, he mean- 

 ing Stockholm tar ; but as this was not specified, and there 

 happened to be some gas tar on the premises, it was used 

 instead. Never shall I forget the cries of pain of that 

 poor goat, whose sufferings I was quite unable to alleviate, 

 for, once applied to the raw surface, it was impossible to 

 remove the tar. However, this effectually cauterised the 

 wounded part, and in course of time the core resembled 

 the other horn. The unfortunate animal that met with 

 this disaster is the one depicted on page 259 harnessed to 



