236 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



intestines, &c., may fall up towards the breast ; the tail is to 

 be towards the operator. The right leg is then carried along 

 the body, and the left brought backwards, and held in this 

 position, so as to leave the left flank perfectly bare, for it is 

 there that the incision is to be made. The said incision is to 

 be directed from before backwards, transversely to the length 

 of the body, at the middle of the flank, and slightly to the side, 

 between the ends of the breast-bone and the vent. Having 

 plucked away the feathers from the space where it is intended 

 to make the incision, you take a bistoury, or a razor, and cut 

 through the skin, abdominal muscles, and peritoneum ; it is 

 better to do this at two or more cuts, in order to avoid the pos- 

 sibility of wounding the intestines a casualty that would, in 

 most cases, be attended with fatal results. The intestines pre- 

 sent themselves at the orifice, but you must not suffer them to 

 come out ; on the contrary, you press them gently aside, so as 

 to have room for action. I may observe, that the incision 

 should have been sufficiently large to admit of the forefinger, 

 previously well oiled, being passed into the abdomen, and car- 

 ried carefully towards the lumbar region of the spine ; you 

 will there find what you are in search of. You first reach the 

 left substance, which you detach with your nail, or with your 

 finger bent hook-fashion ; you then arrive at the right; which 

 you treat similarly bring both substances forth ; you finally 

 return the intestines, sew up the wound with a silk thread a 

 very few stitches will suffice and smear the place with a lit- 

 tle fresh butter. Some persons recommend the amputation of 

 the comb, close to the skull, of the newly-made capon ; but this 

 is surely an unnecessary piece of torture an useless addition 

 to the sufferings of the poor bird. The proposed object of this 

 amputation is to insure the recognition of the capon amongst 

 his co-mates of the poultry-yard. Were such a distinctive 

 mark necessary, it strikes us that the operation must have been, 



