its cutting edge shaped like a very wide V, and opposing this another 

 knife of similar shape, moving in a slide, so that the cutting edges cut 

 the horn from all four sides at once, all the edges passing the center 

 at the same time. Another type has a movable knife with one oblique 

 or one curved edge, and the cutting is done in one direction only. 

 The power for cutting with these instruments is supplied by pulling 

 together two long handles, which, in order to transmit a greater 

 force, are generally so constructed that they act through the medium 

 of a series of cogs. 



In dehorning with these instruments the opening between the cut- 

 ting edges should be slipped down over the horn and the knives closed 

 so that their edges set firmly against the horn in such a position that 

 the cut will be made 

 in the right place 

 and in the right di- 

 rection. The blades 

 should be kept cov- 

 ered with a thick 

 oil or grease. The 

 handles should be 

 drawn together with 

 a quick, firm, strong 

 pull, so that the 

 horn will be com- 

 pletely severed by 

 the first act and with- 

 out twisting. Care 

 should be taken to 

 keep the blades 

 sharpened on their 

 original bevel. 



Dehorning instruments can be procured of the manufacturers and 

 of dealers in veterinary instruments. 



In dairy districts adjacent to large cities there are men who go about 

 from farm to farm dehorning animals, charging for their services in 

 some instances as little as 5 cents per horn or 10 cents per animal. 



There was published in the report of the New Zealand department 

 of agriculture for 1904 a description of the operation of dehorning 

 cattle by the government veterinarian at New Plymouth, in which it 

 was shown that a cage had been used for the restraint of the animals 

 during the operation, closely resembling the box used for hoisting^ 

 horses out of ships, this cage being hauled on a wagon from farm to 

 farm as needed. In discussing the various means for the removal of the 

 horns the report was very favorable to the use of the saw in dehorning 



350 



FIG. 2. Horns showing (a) proper and (6 ) improper cutting. 



