148 THE HOG 



cord ; tie a piece of bread to the cord and present it to the anima,, 

 and when he opens his mouth to seize the bait, catch the upper jaw 

 in the noose, run it tight, and the animal is fast." 



Another means is to catch one foot in a running noose suspended 

 from some place, so as to draw the imprisoned foot off the ground ; 

 or to envelop the head of the animal in a cloth or sack. 



But, so far as it can be, all coercion should be avoided, for the 

 pig is naturally so averse to being handled, that in his struggles he 

 will often do himself far more mischief than the disease we seek to 

 investigate or remedy would effect. 



DRENCHING. 



Here again the observations with which we closed the preceding 

 paragraph are applicable, for there are more instances than one on 

 record in which the pig has, in his struggles, ruptured some vessel 

 and died on the spot, or so injured himself as to bring on inflamma- 

 tion and subsequent death. Whenever it is possible, the medicine 

 should be mingled with a portion of food, and the animal thus cheated 

 or coaxed into taking it. Where this cannot be done, the following 

 is the best method : 



Let a man get the head of the animal firmly between his knees, 

 without, however, pinching it, while another secures the hinder parts. 

 Then let the first take hold of the pig's head from below, raise it a 

 little, and incline it slightly towards the right, at the same time 

 separating the lips on the left side so as to form a hole into which 

 the fluid may be gradually poured, not more being introduced into 

 the mouth at a time than can be swallowed at once. Should the 

 beast snort or choke, the head must be released for a few moments, 

 or he will be in danger of being strangled. 



RINGING. 



The operation of ringing is performed in order to counteract the 

 propensity swine have to dig and furrow up the earth. The ring is 

 passed through what appears to be a prolongation of the septum, 

 between the supplemental, or snout-bone, and the proper nasal. The 

 animal is thus unable to obtain sufficient purchase to use his snout 

 with an/ effect without causing the ring to press so painfully upon 

 the part that he is speedily compelled to desist. But the ring is 

 apt to break, or it wears out in process of time and has to be re- 

 placed. The operation is most painful, and the shrill squeaks of the 

 animal undergoing it cause it to be a perfect nuisance to the neigh 

 borhood. 



John Lawrence gives the following directions concerning this 



