228 SWINE 



moon in which to do this work. While there is no rela- 

 tion between the way a pig will thrive after being oper- 

 ated on and the phase of the moon, there is considerable 

 relation between the condition of a pig in such a case and 

 the weather conditions. The weather at the time of the 

 operation should be favorable. It should not be exceed- 

 ingly hot, neither too cold. It should not be very dusty 

 or wet. In hot weather the pig is likely to become over- 

 heated while in cold weather he may lie around humped 

 up in his nest and not get sufficient exercise for health. 

 If the soil if very dry and dusty and the pig compelled to 

 walk through dusty places or to lie in a dusty pen, he 

 may get dust particles into the wound which may cause 

 trouble. If it is very wet so that the pig is all covered 

 with dirt, or if he gets into the mud and wallows, dirt 

 again may get into the wound and is quite likely to form 

 abscesses or cancerous swellings. 



The pig should be handled with care even though he 

 is only a pig. Cases are known where the pig, imme- 

 diately after being castrated, lay down and died, appar- 

 ently from the nervous shock or from heart failure due 

 probably to rough treatment. The writer has known a 

 man to castrate a large bunch of pigs single handed. In 

 this particular case the pigs were stood on their heads in 

 a nail keg, in which position the operator could work on 

 them conveniently, but this manner of holding is not 

 humane treatment and should not be practiced. 



Two persons can work to the best advantage in cas- 

 trating pigs. The attendant simply goes into the pen and 

 picks up the pig and holds it in his arm, taking the right 

 hind and front feet in his right hand and the left hind 

 and front feet in his left hand, having the pig lie on its 

 back in his right arm. In this position the pig may be 



