THE HOPE OF THE HERD— THE KIDS 147 



do upon being released will be to rub its stinging head 

 with its foot, so spreading the caustic to the eye. Hold 

 it carefully then until the pain stops and the kid no 

 longer tries to rub its head. 



Just over the eye is an artery. Very rarely this 

 artery will start bleeding if the caustic is applied over 

 too large a surface. The cotton at hand must be used 

 promptly to staunch this bleeding, else the flowing blood 

 will carry with it the dissolved caustic, scarring where it 

 touches. This bleeding, however, very rarely occurs. 



This operation of disbudding with caustic is most 

 successful at three to five days after birth. If delayed 

 longer the horn will have begun to grow. It must then 

 be sliced off with a sharp knife, and the caustic be applied 

 as soon as the bleeding is staunched. A surface as large 

 as a quarter must be covered for this older kid. 



Cutting. — The other method of disbudding, by cut- 

 ting out the horn bearing epidermis, requires the fol- 

 lowing equipment: surgeon's scissors, very sharp; a 

 phmiber's arch cutter, very sharp, one inch diameter; 

 siu'geon's forceps with small claws at the end; alcohol; 

 antiseptic cotton and bandage ; surgeon's antiseptic pow- 

 der, and an antiseptic ointment. Clip the hair and wipe 

 the head carefully with alcohol. An assistant must now 

 hold the kid firmly between the knees, fingers of each 

 hand under the chin, thumbs ready to place above the 



