97 



Q. Might it not have been simply a mucous discharge ? A. No, it was not like mucous ; I 

 have no doubt it was pus. This was six weeks after the operation. 



Mr. Kelso. — How much suffering do you consider is connected with the operation ? A. I 

 believe the pain lasts for about eight days after the operation. It would be acute during the 

 actual sawing, slowly going away as healing takes place. 



Mr. Glendinning. — Do you consider that where there is a discharge of pus the milk 

 would be affected. A. Yes, I would think so. If there is a discharge from the nose the cow 

 will lick it, and in that way it would go into the stomach and must affect the milk. 



Q. You say that Mr. York told you there was a falling off in the milk ? A. Yes, he said 

 that they fell off, but that they came up to the usual quantity in about three days. 



Q. Now, if there was fever, would they come up in that way ? A. It is generally an indi- 

 cation that the fever is not very great if the milk comes up so quickly. 



Q. In the case of a vicious bull would you favor dehorning ? A. Yes, if it is very vicious I 

 would say dehorn it ; but 1 don't believe in dehorning simply for the sake of making money 

 out of them. 



Mr. Kelso. — Do you think that animals might be in great pain without giving any indica- 

 tion of it ? A. Yes, there are usually signs, but an animal may be suffering without showing it 

 greatly. 



Mr. Glendinning. — When the horn cavity is completely healed over would it be- with a 

 bony tissue ? A. Yes, The cavity in the horn is at no time during life after development fitted 

 with any substance in it, except the lining membrane and core. The opening is more sensitive 

 at the base of the horn than it is farther up. My opinion is that the horn, if removed, would 

 cause less pain if cut farther up, as there is no sensitiveness in the consolidated portion of the 

 horn. 



Washington A. Elliott, being sworn, said : I am engaged in farming and reside in Dere- 

 ham township, county of Oxford. We have at present from 50 to 75 head of cattle. I have 

 given a good deal of study to the question of dehorning and have taken the horns off about 400 

 head. [ first commenced about two years ago this last winter. A friend of mine from Kansas 

 spoke to me about the benefits of dehorning. I was greatly prejudiced, and ridiculed the idea. 

 J admitted, of course, that it would be a great benefit to have no horns, but I thought to cut 

 the horns off would be great cruelty. After witnessing the operation performed by Chauncey 

 Smith, a neighbor, I was so favorably impressed that I went home and performed it myself on 

 our own herd. I have since done a great deal of it for neighbors, and in consequence <.f the 

 recent prosecution I have looked into the subject pretty thoroughly. 



The first consideration in dehorning cattle is to properly secure the animal. For this pur- 

 pose a strong stanchion is required. This is constructed of two upright scantling, or small 

 round poles five or six feet in length, one of which is stationary ; the other is made last at the 

 lower end, while the upper end can drop back to allow the animal's head to pass in and out. 

 These should not be more than six or seven inches apart when closed. 



A stout rope, in one end of which a ring is fastened, is thrown over the neck so that the 

 ring comes under the throat ; the rope is doubled and the double passed through the ring ; the 

 noose thus formed placed over the nose. This forms a halter, the other end of which is held 

 taut with a windlass or lever. A small set of pulley blocks with a small rope to run them 

 answer very well and are quickly operated. 



The animal is then drawn forward until the shoulders rest firmly against the stanchions. 

 Thus secured there is no chance for moving backwards or forwards or throwing the head from 

 side to side. A block or a carpenter's saw-bench about twenty inches high for the nose to rest 

 upon materially assists the operator. 



The assistant then places himself with his right side against the neck of the animal, his 

 right knee thrown forward under the jaw, the right hand grasping the horn next to him, while 

 his left hand firmly holds the rope under the nose. 



The operator stands facing the animal with his right leg resting firmly against the side of 

 the nose. Then grasping the horn next to him with one hand, he places his saw in position 

 and with a few quick strokes severs it from the head. The assistant then loosens his hold on 

 the horn and throwing his arm over the neck grasps the ear, while the operator removes the 

 second horn in the same manner as the first. 



The animal is then liberated and seldom requires any futher attention, nature quickly 

 repairing the injury, and if properly done there is seldom any scar left to show that there had 

 ever been any horn. 



Should excessive bleeding follow it may be soon stopped by holding a handful of flour on 

 the wound. 



No dressing or covering of any kind is necessary unless the animal should happen to injure 

 itself. 



7 (D.G.) 



