456 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



the rope between the fore legs, carry one around each hind leg just 

 above the fetlock joint, from outside in, under itself once, and bring 

 the free ends forward, passing each through the collar loop on its 

 own side and bringing the slack back toward and beyond the hind 

 quarters. Two or three stout men should then take hold of each rope 

 and at a given signal pull. The animal's hind legs being drawn for- 

 ward, the balance is lost, and if the animal does not fall or lie down 

 he can be readily pushed over on his side and secured in the desired 

 position. 



Second. The three half hitches. Take a rope 30 or more feet 

 long, make a slip noose at the end and pass it over the animal's 

 horns, leaving the knot in the loop between the horns ; then pass the 

 rope backward along the neck to the withers, just in front of which 

 take a half hitch on it, passing it along the back, take one-half hitch 

 just behind the forelegs and a second in front of the hind limbs round 

 the flank. The free end of the rope is taken hold of by one or two 

 assistants while another holds the animal's head. By pulling firmly 

 on the rope, or inducing the animal to make a step or two forward 

 while steady traction is made on the rope, the beast will quietly lie 

 down, when his feet can be secured in the way most convenient foi- 

 the operator. 



There are numerous other methods, involving more or less com- 

 plete restraint, which may be equally efficacious, but one or other of 

 the ways indicated will doubtless be found to meet fully all ordinary 

 cases. 



RINGING THE BULL. 



This is usually and ought always to be done before the calf has 

 attained sufficient weight or strength to make his restraint a matter 

 of serious difficulty. An ordinary halter is usually all that is re- 

 quired, the strap being secured to a tree or post. A jointed steel or 

 copper ring is ordinarily used. Those made of the latter metal are 

 preferable. 



The common method of punching a round piece out of the nasal 

 septum for the introduction of the ring is open to objection, as por- 

 tions of the fine nervous filaments are destroyed. The sensibility 

 of the parts is thus lessened and the object of ringing to some extent 

 defeated. The insertion of the ring by means of a trocar and canula 

 is preferable, as the method is not open to this objection. 



For some years we have used a little instrument which can be 

 made by any worker in metal, consisting of a steel point riveted into 

 a short canula made to fit on one end of the ring while open. When 

 attached to the ring it is easily and quickly passed through the sep- 

 tum, the half of the ring following as a matter of course. It can 

 then be removed, and the ends of the ring brought together and 

 fastened by means of the screw for that purpose. By this means any 

 animal can readily be ringed by anyone in less time than it takes 

 to describe the process ; whereas, by any other method which neces- 

 sitates first puncturing or piercing trie septum and subsequently intro- 

 ducing the ring, the operation is, even when the animal's struggles 

 do not complicate matters, necessarily rendered tedious and uncer- 



