SWINE. 387 



weaned, as it is then less liable to interfere with their health and growth, than if delayed 

 until after weaning. Besides it makes them smooth barrows if done at this age, and obviates 

 the trouble of having a few months afterwards a miscellaneous number of boars on the 

 premises, when there should be only carefully selected animals for breeding purposes. This 

 operation is very simple. The pig may be held from the ground by the hind legs, by an 

 assistant while the operator is at work, or on its back, with the head and shoulders between 

 his knees and the hind legs held apart. With a sharp knife make a small incision into the 

 scrotum, but of sufficient size to press out the testicle, cut the cord with a dull pair of shears 

 to prevent bleeding. 



Never jerk to break the cord, it is a cruel and barbarous practice, as the cord may better 

 be severed by more humane means. Sometimes a little melted lard in which a little salt has 

 been mixed is applied to the wound, but there will generally be no need of the application of 

 anything. If on the second day, there should be considerable swelling, a little tincture of 

 myrrh should be inserted into the cavity. 



Mr. Coburn gives the following method of castrating old boars: &quot; After drawing up one 

 hind leg, and fastening it securely to a post or stake, fasten another rope around the lower jaw, 

 back to the tusks, draw it tightly and fasten it to another stake; in this position the animal 

 can offer no serious resistance. The cut should be low down, and as small as possible. The 

 low cut will afford a ready means of escape for all extraneous matter, and allow the wound 

 to keep itself clean, there being no sac or pocket left to hold the pus formed during the 

 healing process. It is not best to perform this operation when the boar is very fat, or when 

 the weather is too warm, as the risk is much greater. 



Spaying. This operation is sometimes performed on sows when about three months 

 old, where large numbers of swine are kept. It is, however, a very delicate operation and 

 should never be practiced upon any animal whatever, except by a person who perfectly 

 understands the business and has seen it performed by a skillful veterinary surgeon. A recent 

 writer has well said, &quot; There are a thousand men who can do a tolerable job at castrating, to 

 one that is competent to perform a spaying operation.&quot; We would not as a general rule 

 recommend spaying, it is a cruel practice and attended with too much risk. There may be 

 cases when it is desirable, and for the benefit of those who desire such information, we insert 

 the directions for spaying small animals, which are given by Professor Law in his veterinary 

 work. The animal should be sparingly fed on light food for several days before this operation 

 is performed. 



&quot;The animal is stretched on its left side, the fore limbs and head being firmly secured, 

 and the hind limbs extended backwards. The hair is shaved from the flank a little below the 

 angle of the hip-bone, and an incision made from above down, extending to an inch in the 

 pig or bitch, or sufficient to introduce the hand in the heifer. Then with the finger or hand, 

 as the case may be, the womb is sought, backward at the entrance of the pelvis in the interval 

 between the bladder and the straight gut. Being found, one horn or division is drawn up 

 through the wound until its end is exposed with the round mass of the ovary adjacent. The 

 latter is seized and cut or twisted off according to the size of the animal. Then the next 

 horn and ovary are brought out, and treated in the same way. The womb is now returned 

 into the abdomen, and the skin accurately sewed up.&quot; 



There are other methods of performing this operation, but the one previously 

 recommended is usually regarded as the best. An animal that has been spayed should be 

 protected from the cold and storms, and lightly fed for a few days on moist, cooling food. 

 Apply a little lard with which turpentine has been mixed for a few days afterward. There 

 will be danger of trouble from flies, if spaying is performed in very warm weather. 



Fattening PigS. The best method of fattening pigs is to commence giving them all 

 they will eat while young ; this will cause them to grow rapidly, and produce more pork for 



