222 



Animal Castration 



Operative Technique — With left side uppermost the feathers 

 are plucked from site of incision — last intercostal space. The skin 

 is chilled by allowing a glass of cold water to slowly trickle over 

 it. This chilling process has a tendency to rednee capillary hem- 

 orrhage from the skin. With knife begin high between the last 

 two ribs and make an incision 1 to l 1 /) inches long, severing 

 through skin and both layers of intercostal muscle down to the 

 transparent peritoneum. Since the intercostal artery follows 

 closely the posterior (back) border of the rib this incision should 

 be made as close to the anterior border (front) of the last rib as 

 possible. The spreaders are now inserted. This opens the wound, 



Fig. 205 — Making a Poularde. E, Abdominal Incision; G, Spreaders; F, Thum Forceps. 



and through the transparent membrane (peritoneum) covering 

 the intestines the egg cluster is examined. If there is evidence of 

 advanced egg formation it is not profitable to make a poularde. 

 More profitable to release her for egg production, in which event 

 the abdominal cavity is not opened. The spreaders are simply 

 removed and the fowl released. On the other hand, if, upon exam- 

 ination of the egg cluster — through the transparent peritoneum — 

 there is no evidence of egg formation the peritoneum is knicked 

 sufficient to open the abdominal cavity. Beginning close to the 



