68 poultry laboratory guide 



The Operation 



Lay the bird on its left side and wrap the cord 

 twice around the legs, making a half sUp with the 

 hook; attach to the other end a weight about 

 the size of a half brick. Wrap the second string 

 around the wings, bringing them together at the 

 back, and let the weights hang over the opposite 

 sides of the table, thus holding the fowl secure. 

 Moisten the feathers with a two per cent solution 

 of creolin. This tends to prevent bleeding, and 

 makes the feathers stay where placed, and kills 

 any germs which may be present. 



Pluck a few feathers above the first and second 

 ribs, and pull the skin with the left hand toward 

 the hip so that after the operation the skin wUl 

 move back, covering the opening. Grasp the 

 knife in the right hand, and make the incision 

 between the first and second rib, cutting away 

 from the backbone. In making the cut push 

 the point of the knife in quickly about one quar- 

 ter of an inch, and hold it there, as the bird will 

 move its ribs up and down for a moment ; then 

 increase the cut to about an inch in length, taking 

 care to cut between the ribs. Next insert the 

 spreader by pressing it together and having the 

 hook ends catch between the ribs. Should the 

 wound bleed freely, wipe it off with a piece of cot- 



