142 THE PEOPLE'S PKACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



HOW TO PLACE THE FOWL. 



The fowl being thus secured with its left side downwards, wings clasped 

 behind its back, legs extended backwards, the upper one being drawn the 

 furthest back (see figure 2,) the head and neck being left perfectly free, the 

 feathers are next to be plucked from its right side near the hip joint, in a 

 line between that and the shoulder joint ; the space uncovered (a figure 2) 

 may be a little over an inch square. Having first drawn the skin of the part 

 backward, so that when left to itself after the operation, it will cover the 

 wound in the flesh, make an incision with the bevel-edged knife (letter ,) 

 between the last two ribs, commencing about an inch from the backbone, 

 and extending obliquely downwards about an inch or inch and a half, just 

 going deep enough to separate the ribs, and taking good care not to wound 

 the intestines. A pair of broad blunt hooks, (letters c, c,) attached to a 

 piece of elastic whalebone or ratan (b) about six inches long are then applied, 

 one hook on each side of the cut, and these being stretched apart by the 

 spring bow, keep the wound open wide enough to give room for the opera- 

 tion. 



HOW THE OPERATION IS PERFORMED. 



Carefully cut open the skin covering the intestines, which last, if not 

 sufficiently drawn up in consequence of the previous fastening, may be pushed 

 forwards or towards the breastbone, by means of a flat instrument contrived 

 for the purpose, or, what answers equally well, the handle of a teaspoon. 

 When the testicles are exposed to view they will be found to be connected 

 with the back and sides by means of a thin skin which passes over them. 

 This tender covering must be seized with the pincers (a, a,) and torn open 

 with the assistance of the sharp edged hook, (h /) after this, with the left 

 hand, introduce the curved spoon under the lower or left testicle (which is 

 generally a little nearer the rump than the right one ;) then take the tube 

 (,) and with the right hand pass the loop (ri) over the small hooked end 

 of the spoon (A,) running it down under the spoon and included testicle, so 

 as to bring the loop to act upon the part which fastens the testicle to the 

 back. Then by drawing the ends of the hair-loop backwards and forwards, 

 ,-md at the same time pushing the lower .end of the tube towards the rump 

 of the chicken, the cord, or fastening of the testicle, is sawn off. The same 

 process is to be followed with the uppermost or right testicle, after which 

 the separated testicles, together with any blood in the bottom of the wound 

 are to be scooped out with the crooked spoon. 



WHEN PERFORMED PROPERLY. 



When performed properly, little or no blood of consequence is observed, 

 neither does the bird seem to experience any pain, after the first incision, 

 but will eat food freely if given to it. To enable the operator to produce 

 the sawing movement, the hair or other ligature used, may be tied in a 

 knot, so as to allow the index, or forefinger of the operator's right hand to 



