CAPONIZING. 237 



so to speak, thrown away ; inasmuch as the superior size and 

 bulk of the capon should, of themselves, be sufficiently indica- 

 tive of his identity. But, independent of these, I may observe 

 that the comb of the capon does not grow to any size, and 

 always retains a pallid color. Should it be proposed to capon- 

 ize cocks belonging- to varieties not naturally possessing combs, 

 it will surely be found, at the very most, sufficient to cut the 

 tail-feathers down to a stump. In some parts of the continent, 

 the caponizers resort to still more unnecessary brutality. They 

 cut off the spurs of the poor, caponized bird ; and, making an 

 incision in its comb, as it were, plant them in it. They are so 

 held for about twenty minutes in short, just until the blood 

 coagulates ; they then become not merely permanently adhe- 

 rent, but actually grow. The less, however, said about these 

 very and needlessly inhuman practices, the better. 



To return to our more immediate subject. The process hav- 

 ing been performed as above described, the bird is placed in a 

 warm house, where there are no perches, as, if such appliances 

 were present, the newly-made capon might very probably 

 injure himself in his attempts to perch, and, perhaps, even tear 

 open the sutures, and possibly occasion the operation, usually 

 simple and free from danger, to terminate fatally. For about 

 a week, the food of the bird should be soft meal porridge, and 

 that in small quantities, alternated with bread steeped in milk ; 

 he may be given as much pure water as he will drink, but I 

 recommend that it be tepid, or at least that the chill be taken 

 off it. At the end of a week, or, at the furthest, ten days, the 

 bird, if he has been previously of a sound, vigorous constitu- 

 tion, will be all right, and may be turned out into the walk 

 common to all your fowl. 



It is, perhaps, proper to remind the operator, that when he 

 conceives it necessary, in either case, to employ sutures for the 

 purpose of closing the wound, great care must be taken to 



