168 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



confined air, which is very simple and appears to have 

 answered the purpose completely. It consists of a 

 cane six feet in length, with a round knob of wood, 

 perfectly secured at one end. An assistant is to lay 

 hold of the cow's horn with one hand, and the part 

 which divides the nostrils with the other. The opera- 

 tor is to take the tongue in his left hand, and with his 

 right he is to force the instrument down the gullet. 

 As soon as it enters the paunch a great deal of air will 

 rush out. The instrument may remain in the stomach, 

 without injuring the animal, until the air is perfectly 

 evacuated. 



" It sometimes happens that the distention of the 

 paunch takes place so suddenly, and in so dangerous 

 a degree, that no tim6 is allowed for using the instru* 

 ment ; in this case a sharp pointed pen-knife may be 

 plunged mto the paunch through the skin, by which 

 the confined air will immediately escape. 



There is no difficulty or danger in the operation ; 

 nor is any other instrument required than a sharp 

 pointed pen-knife. Should the opening be plugged up 

 with the contents of the paunch, they may be removed, 

 or the orifice kept open with a probe or feather. When 

 all the air has escaped, let the wound be closed with 

 any kind of sticking plaister, or pitch. This opening 

 is to be made on the left side, between the haunch bone 

 and the last rib." — Whitens Treatise. 



Clayter, an English writer on Farriery, directs this 

 last mentioned operation to be performed in the follow- 

 ing manner. 



"Take a sharp pen-knife and gently introduce it 

 into the paunch between the haunch bone and the last 

 rib on the left side. This will instantly give vent to a 

 large quantity of foetid air ; a small tube of a suffi- 



