CAPONIZING 311 
observed to see whether they become “ wind puffed.” This is a con- 
dition caused by air gathering under and puffing out the skin near the 
wound. When observed it can be readily relieved by pricking the 
skin with a needle or knife and pressing out the air. In about 10 
days or 2 weeks the incision into the body should be entirely healed, 
and, although no special antiseptic methods are employed in the 
operation, blood poisoning or any other trouble seldom results. 
CAPONIZING THE MALE OSTRICH 
According to Elley, whose description of the operation is given 
below, the best age for castration of the ostrich is from eighteen 
months to two years. The testes are then beginning to develop, are 
easily located, but are not yet so vascular as to occasion any prob- 
able risk of hemorrhage. 
Preparation for operation. “Have the birds brought into 
the pen on the afternoon of the day before it is intended to operate, 
so that they may have no food whatever for say twenty hours before 
the operation, as the less ingesta in the stomach and bowels, the bet- 
ter and easier it will be. If possible there should be three adjoining 
pens; the first in which to catch the birds, the second or middle for 
operating in, and the third in which to place the birds after the opera- 
tion. The operating pen should be well sprayed with a disinfectant 
solution before commencing. The first bird is caught and brought to 
the operating pen and the chloroform bag placed on his head with 
rather less than half an ounce of chloroform (2-3 teaspoonfuls) on 
the cotton wool. One good boy can then hold him until he is properly 
under the influence of the anesthetic. A little more chloroform can 
be added after he is down, and if necessary once or twice during the 
operation. One ounce, or at the most one-and-a-half ounces, should 
be sufficient for the whole operation. Ascertain by moving the wings 
or striking him, if he is properly under, then place him on his left 
side. A boy now grasps the right leg and brings it slightly further 
forward than at right angles to the body. The seat of the operation 
is now exposed. It lies in the angle formed by the leg-and the lower 
edge of the innominate bone, about three inches behind the former 
and one-and-a-half inches below the latter. The innominate bone 
can be felt as a distinct ridge running backwards and slightly down- 
wards, about the middle of the body immediately behind the leg; it 
corresponds to the lowest part of the body on which any feathers 
are found. It is immediately below this ridge that the incision is 
