88 



HENRI RelmkA, fanner, Brownsville, sworn, said: r have -'JO head of cattle now, and 

 am in favor of dehorning. Had fourteen dehorned last fall, by Mr. Elliott, and they healed 

 well. Have seen a good deal of injury dmehy horns; had a marc gored badly last summer, 

 have had to go in with a club to keep my cattle quiet. Left the catt e out all night with an 

 open sh( which they cou'd go for warmth. In the morning found two or three were 



inside and all the others C impelled to keep outside. Since dehorning they are all easily taken 

 .•are of, and will lie down peaceably together. I wo ild not take $2 per head and have the horns 

 on again. » 



Ali:\ wni.i; Lapier, farmer, Bayhani township ; sworn, said : I keep lb or 17 head, mostly 

 dairy cows My experience of dehorning is that it is a success. T first dehorned two cows 

 two years ago last April; then fifteen a year ago this spring, and two more this spring. I 

 am positive they are quieter indisposition than they were before dehorning. The first cow 

 I had dehorned was not doing very well before that, and afterwards I noticed quite a differ- 

 ence in her. I knew a case where a cow bled freely from a broken horn, and on sawing 

 off the horn the bleeding stopped. 



Roger W. Hawkins, farmer, Dereham township, sworn, said: lam engaged in dairying 

 and keep about 50 head. I am in favor of dehorning ; first had the horns taken off on Novembe 1 ' 

 20th last ; have had a good deal of loss from horns. I had a cow disembowelled while coming 

 up the lane and she had to be killed ; another cow had its hip broken and I think it suffered 

 more pain than any other animal I ever saw ; also had a number of less serious accidents ; 

 going to the water trough was a great source of annoyance. I have seen more hooking there 

 than at any other place ; since dehorning there is no trouble in that way, and 1 find it very 

 much easier to handle cattle ; I can open the stable door and let the animals come in as they 

 please, tying them up whenever I have leisure. I have not tried caustic but I have taken off 

 the budding horns of three calves with a knife, and I notice that they are starting to grow 

 again. As Mr. Bate said, I have seen 20 cows gather under the shade of one tree or barn, and 

 I think from that the operation is a good thing for dairy cows. The patrons of the cheese fac- 

 tories claim that their supply of milk to the factories is larger than before and that it is better 

 mi«k. I don't approve of turning freshly-dehorned cows in with muleys, as the latter will often 

 atart bunting and cause a second hemorrhage. The fall is the best time for the operation. 



Ira Hark is, farmer, Dereham township, sworn, said : I am engaged in the dairy business 

 and keep 14 head. Had my cows dehorned at the beginning of the year and my experience is 

 that it is a complete success. Have heard the evidence of previous witnesses and agree with 

 them. 



* 



William Brady, V. S. Tilsonburg, sworn, said : I have been in practice here since 1873 

 and have had a large experience with cattle ; have attended to a large number of animals both 

 cattle and horses that have been* injured by horns ; I believe that dehorning is practicable. My 

 opinion befoi-e I saw the operation was that it was not desirable ; since I have seen it a good 

 deal I have become quite convinced the other way. There is a certain amount of pain in the 

 operation. I do not see that it makes any material difference whether animals operated on are 

 old or young. From two to three months is the average time for fully healing up. The heal- 

 ing as a rule is perfect. From what I have seen I consider that the operation is a beneficial 

 one ; it seems to make the cattle quieter and safer in eveiy way. The operation should be well 

 performed and with proper tools. I think the horns should be taken off close to the head, as 

 they will heal more quickly then ; I think that practically the pain is over when the horn is 

 taken off. I \astration I consider to be a much more painful operation than dehorning. An 

 animal would suffer more from a broken horn than from having the entire horn removed 

 quickly ; I have not dehorned cattle myself, but would do it if necessary ; 1 certainly think it 

 very iry to have the operation well done where it is done at all ; there should be a good 



saw. v,;ll oiled each time, and the animal should be properly fastened, so as to lose as little 

 time as possible ; I examined cattle at different times after the operation and did not find 

 any constitutional disturbance. Have had the care of 70 head after dehorning ; I have exam- 

 ined tiie membrane linings of the head. There is a mucous membrane, and we hold that a 

 mucous membrane is not very sensitive ; the most sensitive part is close to the skin and does 

 not extend far in, if it did there would be a formation of pus and suppuration. The wound 

 seems to heal by first hit ntion. I have seen a mucous discharge, but that is a discharge that 

 nature provides for the healing of the wound ; there was no pus discharge in any I have seen, 

 but in one or two cases after the scab had formed over the parts I found, upon raising the scab, 

 a very small quantity of pus lodged underneath. A mucous discharge is no sign of pain, even 

 ;.f it were running down the face ; it is simply the exudation of matter that is closing up the part. 



