No. 4. 



Capons. 



125 



Capons. 



Editor of Farmers' Cabinet, — 



Dear Sir, — A friend in the city sent me 

 the "Ledger" of the 20th inst., and on look- 

 ing over its columns, my attention was par- 

 ticularly attracted by the remarks of " An 

 thrax," on emasculating the male fowl. This 

 is a branch of business that I have had con- 

 siderable experience in, and as it is attended 

 with much uncertainty in its results in rela- 

 tion to the life of the subject, a more detailed 

 account of the method of performing the 

 operation is required by the new beginner, 

 than is to be found in the many publications 

 of the day. With this purpose in view, I 

 pen a few remarks on the subject, and offer 

 them to your consideration, which, if ac- 

 ceptable, may find their way into the pages 

 of the Cabinet, thus coming more directly 

 before the eye of the farmer, the indivi- 

 dual to be benefited by this art. 



I have read most of the publications to be 

 found, describing this operation, and am sat- 

 isfied, that with all their minute and specific 

 directions, no one unacquainted with the ana- 

 tomical structure and relations of the various 

 organs of the fowl, can succeed in capon- 

 izing successfully. It differs in practice 

 from most other operations of this nature, 

 performed upon our domestic animals. The 

 testicles are deep seated in the cavity of the 

 abdomen, surrounded by, and in proximity 

 to organs of vital functions, an injury to 

 which would produce death, or a gen'eral, ifl 

 not permanent derangement of health. In' 

 order, therefore, to avoid organs whose func- 

 tions are so important to life and health, and 

 which are so liable to injury by an inexpe- 

 rienced operator, a practical demonstration 

 should be given to everyone undertaking it, 

 more especially if he possesses no anatomi- 

 cal knowledge. Indeed, so uncertain have 

 been the effects of the operation performed 

 by those who have had an insight, that many 

 have abandoned it, when perseverance and 

 attention in ascertaining the cause of fail- 

 ure, combined with practice, would have 

 given satisfactory success. It is a nice and 

 delicate operation, and one that cannot be 

 performed by every bungler who may spay 

 a sow, or castrate a bull. 



The method of caponing, as mentioned 

 by "Anthrax," is not only unnecessary, but 

 cruel; there is no practical utility in making 

 two openings, where one suffices. Not only 

 so, but it is more consistent with humanity, 

 to operate with the least possible pain ; and 

 as the incisions through the true skin and 

 muscles, give the greatest pain, the single 

 operation is far preferable, to say nothing of 

 tiie amount, or danger of visceral inflamma- 



tion and emph)'sema that frequently occur. 

 Nor is the opening between the last rib and 

 hip, as preferable or convenient as one made 

 between the two ribs. As this is so obvious 

 to every one who has performed the opera- 

 tion, it is unnecessary to mention the rea- 

 sons. Place the subject upon its left side, 

 the back toward the operator, and after re- 

 moving the feathers in the region of the 

 first and second ribs, make the opening be- 

 tween the two, commencing at the car- 

 tilaginous point of the ribs, and extending 

 toward the spine, half an inch. There is a 

 small artery and nerve, that will be in dan- 

 ger of being wounded ; provided the incision 

 is made lateral of the first rib, it is seen en- 

 tering between the bellies of two large la- 

 vating muscles running down the thigh. 

 W hen the operation is between the two 

 nbs, the margin of these muscles is gene- 

 rally a true index. Appended to the article 

 of "Anthrax," is a note, wherein he says. 

 Captain Kavolski informs him, that capons 

 are made in Poland, by simply tearing the 

 testicles away with the fingers; no prepara- 

 tory measures being necessary. Mascell 

 says, the lady poulterer " alters young cock- 

 rels" by the same process, and that it is also 

 performed by men, girls and boys. The 

 Chinese, French and English, use instru- 

 ments in making capons, and I believe it 

 was from the first named people we received 

 our first rudiments of the knowledge, and a 

 sample of instruments. To Messrs. B. 

 Badger & Co., we are indebted for its intro- 

 duction. The writers who have noticed 

 this art, would seem to convey the impres- 

 sion that it is very easy of performance, at- 

 tended with little trouble, for they tell us 

 that girls and boys "acquire quite a dexte- 

 rity in caponing." As I have no certain 

 knowledge to the contrary, I must believe 

 it, but at the same time, if the girls and 

 boys of ancient and modern times, are so 

 expert in this respect, I am ashamed of my 

 countrymen, for two-thirds of those of riper 

 years, who have attempted this branch of 

 agricultural surgery, have not operated suc- 

 cessfully. Almost half have proven failures 

 or slips. It occurs with the most practical 

 and expert operators, under circumstances 

 the most favourable, and is one of the seri- 

 ous drawbacks in the business. The pas- 

 sion of the male being sirong and excita- 

 ble, it is only subdued by perfect emascu- 

 lation. Whenever it is imperfectly done, if 

 even a minute part is left behind, — al- 

 though the main portion attached to the 

 spermatic chord is thoroughly removed, a 

 false connection of cellular tissue is estab- 

 lished between the part remaining and the 

 seminal ducts or chord, that invariably 



