PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 103 



operation. The feathers forward) of the bird's right hip 

 are damipened with a little waiter aoid parted at the 

 space between the first and second ribs nest to the hip. 

 A few of the feathers here may be plucked if necessary 

 to expose the skin at this place. The skin is drawn 

 back over the hip by the fingers of one hand while those 

 of the other hand find the space between the first and 

 second* ribs about one inch below the back] bone. The 

 steel blade is used to make an incision parallel with and 

 between these two ribs. Do not thrust the point of the 

 blade in so deep as to puncture the bowels or diaphragm. 

 Avoid cutting into the lungs which are just forward of 

 the diaphragm, close up against the back bone. The 

 spreader is inserted to hold apaot the sides of the open- 

 ing between the ribs. If necessary the opening is en- 

 larged by using the steel blade, to cut upward 1 or down- 

 ward along the ribs but do not cut close up to the spinal 

 column. 



The little hook or the hook end of the twisting 

 spoon is used to catch into the thin, transparent film of 

 membrane which surrounds the abdominal cavity. This 

 lining is torn open so that the operator can see into 

 the cavity. The two testacles lie near the back .bone, 

 attached by fine cords very close to a large artery. With 

 the sun shining directly into the cavity one testacle 

 should be plainly visible, partially hiding the one below 

 it. The twisting spoon is inserted', pushed down and 

 passed under the lower lying testacle. Having gathered 

 it in/to tbe hollow of the spoon, its cord should slip into 

 the slit in the middle of the spoon. By turning and 

 drawing the spoon the cord attachment is twisted apart 

 and the testacle is then removed' from the cavity. The 

 spoon is again inserted and the remaining testacle re- 

 moved in like manner. If a spoon with a> clipping knife 

 is used the cord attachment is cut and; the testacle re- 

 moved without twisting the spoon. If the canula and 

 horse hair or fine wire is used the testacle is caught at 

 the end of the canula by the loop of hair or wire and 

 then by twisting the firmly held carniia, the organ is 

 torn from its attachment and removed. If the testacle 



