238 FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT 
being careful not to cut the membrane or sac which envelops 
the testicle. Then draw out the testicle enclosed in its membrane, 
and, at the same time, work the intestine back into the body of 
the pig. With the pig held as described, the intestine will go back 
to its place with little or no assistance. Having drawn out the 
testicle far enough, tie a strong white string firmly around the 
cord of the testicle (including the membrane) and then cut away 
the testicle (enclosed in its membrane) just outside of where the 
string is tied. Leave the ends of the string three or four inches 
long, so that they hang outside the wound. If the string does 
not come away in a couple of weeks, it may be pulled out. 
If the rupture is only on one side, the remaining testicle may . 
be removed in the ordinary way. The scrotum should be washed 
with disinfectant before any incision is made. The hands of 
the operator and the knife should also be washed with disin- 
fectant, and the string should be soaked in disinfectant before it 
is used. The incision in the scrotum should extend well down- 
wards to facilitate drainage from the wound. These simple 
precautions assure success. 
The writer has employed this method successfully, and when 
the wound heals no person could tell that the pig had been 
ruptured. 
Feeding and Management after Weaning.—There is con- 
siderable difference of opinion as tu the best age at which to 
wean pigs. Some advocate leaving the pigs with the sow for 
ten or twelve weeks,—in fact, the sow is allowed practically 
to wean her own pigs. For producing show pigs this method 
may answer very well, but it means only one litter a year; at 
any rate, it does not admit of two litters a year. The average 
farmer will find it more profitable to wean his pigs early 
cnough to permit two litters a year to be raised. If the young 
pigs have been taught to eat as described, and skim-milk is 
available, they may be weaned successfully when six weeks old. 
It is true that many pigs are weaned before they are six weeks 
old. It is seldom advisable to do so if they appear to be thriving 
