188 The Care of Animals 



pushed down out of the way. The left testicle is 

 situated in front of the kidney and behind the lung. 

 It is best removed with an ecraseur, made by doubling 

 an "E" violin string and pushing the loop through 

 a small tube. This loop is slipped over the testicle 

 and tightly drawn, thus cutting oif the testicle. Both 

 testicles can be removed through one incision, bnt 

 many operators think they can save time and that the 

 fowls do better when operated on from both sides. 

 The incision should be sewed up by taking two or 

 three stitches. Following the operation, feed the birds 

 lightly with soft, laxative food. Barred Plymouth Rocks 

 make very fine capons. 



The loss from the operation is very small when prop- 

 erly performed, and few ^' slips," in which both testicles 

 have not been removed, will occur. An amateur, be- 

 fore attempting to operate, should practice upon a 

 dead cockerel until he is familiar with the anatomy 

 of the parts. The best plan is to take instruction 

 from an expert caponizer. 



Spaying 



There are three general methods of spaying. 

 First. — Through the vagina. This method is appli- 

 cable only to large animals, as cows and mares, where 

 the vagina is large enough to receive the hand. The 

 animal is confined in a standing position. The left 

 hand is inserted in the vagina, or uterus. An incision 

 is then made in the upper front part of the wall of 

 the vagina, just in front of the uterus. The left hand 



