398 BROILERS, ROASTERS, AND CAPONS 



them to press against the ribs on either side, and thus hold the 

 incision open, the opening being controlled by the size of the 

 chicken. A thin, tissue-like skin will now be perceived on looking 

 into the cut, and it is next necessary to rupture this by using the 

 hook on the end of the spoon. Care should be used in tearing 

 this not to rupture the intestines or arteries. The tear should be 

 right under the incision, and no larger than the opening. On look- 

 ing into the opening the testicles can now be seen, attached to 

 the back. At the age of three months they will appear as little 

 rolls of fat, yellow in color, about one-half an inch long, and 

 about the size of a kernel of wheat. 



Now comes the delicate and hard part of the operation, — 

 namely, the securing and removal of these organs. The best pro- 

 cedure is as follows: Take the spoon in the left hand, and press 

 the intestines back with same until the lower testicle lies in the 

 spoon, then take the cannula, which has been previously threaded 

 with horsehair, leaving a loop about double the size of the tes- 

 ticle, the hair being knotted at the upper end, leaving a large 

 loop of such size as to admit the thumb, and small enough so that 

 it will be possible to draw the lower loop tight by an upward 

 movement of the thumb. After fixing the cannula firmly in the 

 right hand, place the small loop over the testicle with the aid 

 of the spoon, gradually elevating the thumb until the lower 

 testicle is firmly held in the loop, then by an upward movement 

 of the thumb and a gradual drawing up of the cannula, at the 

 same time twisting it slightly, the testicle and the sac in which 

 it is enclosed will be entirely removed. The spoon should be held 

 under the testicle to catch it when it is severed. The same pro- 

 cedure should follow in the removal of the upper one, except that 

 it will be found much easier, as it lies near the top in better view 

 and is more easily reached. The object of removing the lower 

 one first is that, in case of any bleeding from prior removal of the 

 upper one, it would be impossible to find the lower one. After 

 both testicles are removed, take out the spreader, and the skin 

 will slip back over the opening. The bird should be immediately 

 released. It has sometimes been suggested that the testicle be 

 removed by an incision on both sides of the bird; but this is un- 

 necessary, except in the case of the first few birds done by an 

 amateur, or where the birds have not fasted long enough. 



Slips and Deaths. — If during the operation the tissue of the 

 testicle is ruptured or torn, there is a possibility of some of it 



