298 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



The common method of punching a round piece out of the nasal 

 septum for the introduction of the ring is, I think, open to objection, 

 as portions of the fine nervous fihiments are destroyed. The sensi- 

 bility of the parts is thus lessened and the object of ringing to some 

 extent defeated. The insertion of the ring by means of a trocar and 

 cannula is preferable, as the method is not open to this objection. 



For some years we have used a little instrument which can be made 

 by any worker in metal, consisting of a steel point riveted into a short 

 cannula made to fit on one end of the ring while open. (PI. XXVIII, 

 fig. 11.) When attached to the ring it is easily and quickly passed 

 through the septum, the half of the ring following as a matter of 

 course. It can then be removed, and the ends of the ring brought 

 together and fastened by means of the screw for that purpose. By 

 this means any animal can readily be ringed by anyone in less time 

 than it takes to describe the process; whereas, by any other method 

 which necessitates first puncturing or piercing the septum and subse- 

 quently introducing the ring, the operation is, even when the animal's 

 struggles do not complicate mattei^, necessarily rendered tedious and 

 uncertain by the fact that the opening through the skin and cartilage 

 are not in apposition. 



DEHORNING. 



In this and other countries for some years past controversies have 

 from time to time been carried on not only as to the advisability 

 of dehorning, but also as to the propriety of the proceeding. The 

 advocates of wholesale removal of horns in many cases exaggerate 

 alike the necessity and the advantages accruing from the practice; on 

 the otlior hand, their opponents are backed by the ultra humanitarian 

 who stigmatizes the operation as barbarous, or worse. In some coun- 

 tries these views are upheld even by courts of law whose legal acumen 

 is able to detect in the procedure grave cruelty to animals. 



In this countrj^ owners are left to decide matters of this sort for 

 themselves, but a work of this kind would hardly be complete without 

 some expression of an opinion on the subject which might be helpful 

 to the dubious when the matter comes up for decision. Justly, then, 

 does the operation amount to cruelty ? We answer distinctly, It does 

 not. Cruelty to animals is defined as the infliction of unnecessary 

 pain. Xow, the operation of dehorning causes pain certainly, as all 

 surgical operations necessarily do, but it is not by any means more 

 painful than many other operations (notably castration), to which we 

 regidarly subject individual animals without a second thought. 

 Moreover, the pain is transient as well as slight, and, as a matter of 

 fact, pales into insignificance before the severe and lasting torture 

 inflicted as a matter of everyday occurrence by animals upon each 

 other when left to wear in confinement their weapons of offense, 

 which, although doubtless of utility in a wild state, are, in a state of 



