344 CAPONIZING FOWL. 



Then, adjust and apply the retractor by means of the small 

 thumb screw, and stretch apart the wound sufficiently wide to 

 afford room to examine the parts to be removed. 



Then, with the scalpel or a sharp penknife, carefully cut 

 open the skin, or membrane, covering the intestines, which, if 

 not sufficiently drawn up, in consequence of the previous con- 

 finement, may be pushed forward towards the breast-bone, by 

 means of the bowl of the spoon-shaped instrument, or, what 

 would answer equally well, with the handle of a teaspoon. 



As the testicles are exposed to view, they will be found to be 

 connected with the back and sides, by means of a thin mem- 

 brane, or skin, which passes over them. This tender covering 

 must then be seized with the forceps, and torn open with the 

 sharp-pointed hook at the small end of the spoon-shaped in- 

 strument, after which, with the left hand, introduce the bowl 

 of the spoon under the lower, or left testicle, which is generally 

 a little nearer to the rump than the right one. 



Then take the double canula, adjust the hair loop, and, with 

 the right hand, pass the loop over the small hooked end of the 

 spoon, running it down under the bowl of the spoon containing 

 the testicle, so as to bring the loop to act upon the parts which 

 connects the testicle to the back. Then, by drawing the ends 

 of the hair-loop backward and forward, and at the same time 

 pushing the lower end of the tube, or canula, towards the rump 

 of the Fowl, the cord, or fastening of the testicle is severed. 



A similar process is then to be repeated with the uppermost 

 or right testicle, after which, any remains of the testicles, to- 

 gether with the blood at, or around, the bottom of the wound, 

 must be scooped out with the bowl of the spoon. The reason 

 for cutting out the left testicle first, is to prevent the blood, 

 which may issue, from covering the one remaining, and render- 

 ing it more difficult to be seen. 



After the preceding operation is performed, which, if skil- 

 fully done, occupies only a few minutes, the retractor is taken 



