CAPONIZING 



275 



In size they vary with breed, size and age of the animal. In 

 roosters, the most favorable time for operation is at the age 

 of four months. 



TECHNIQUE. — In America it has been customary to 

 perform the operation by making an incision between 

 the last two ribs, which is held open with a special spring 

 retractor, while the testicles are drawn out with a blunt, 

 spoon-like forcep. But this technique has been outclassed 



Pig. 137 — Internal Organs of a Fowl, 

 a, a — Testicles, c, c — Supra- 

 Renal Capsules. 



Fig. 138 — Retractive Instrument for 

 Caponizing by American Method. 



by the Germans, who perform it in a more simple manner 

 and with much better general results, as follows : 



The expert operator holds the rooster, back downwards 

 under his left arm, the feet in his left hand, thus exposing 

 the abdomen and flanks. The less experienced may enlist 

 the help of an assistant who sits upon a table or chair and 

 holds the animal on his knees with the back downward and 

 the hind quarters toward the operator. 



Either flank may be selected for the incision, which is 

 made midway between the posterior extremity of the ster- 



