490 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



has a narrow bowl, and a needle threaded with white silk or sur- 

 gical gut. Common sense dictates that the instruments should 

 be absolutely clean, also the operator's hands, so as to prevent 

 infection. 



The first step is to trim the feathers from a space about one 

 by two inches over the center of the crop, and to moisten and 

 brush aside any other feathers that may be in the way. Clip 

 the feathers with the scissors; do not pull them out. Wipe the 

 bird's flesh with an antiseptic where the incision is to be made, 

 and with the fingers of one hand draw the outer skin fairly tight; 

 then make an incision with the point of the knife. Insert the 

 point of the scissors and enlarge the cut until it is about an inch 

 and a quarter long. Separate this outer skin by spreading the 

 slit, and then make a similar incision in the crop wall. 



Care should be taken to make the cut where there are fewest 

 blood-vessels, and to avoid the largest ones altogether. A little 

 blood will flow, and this should be removed with bits of absorbent 

 cotton. The cut should not be made any larger than is neces- 

 sary to gain access to the interior of the crop and to remove its 

 contents with the small spoon. Sometimes the mass is so hard 

 that it is difficult to remove it without first manipulating to 

 break It up. It is usually very offensive, and considerable pa- 

 tience is necessary to perform the work thoroughly. The opera- 

 tion is practically painless, so that the operator need have no 

 unnecessary qualms over the victim's comfort. 



Washing the Crop. — ^After the contents are thoroughly re- 

 moved, the crop should be washed out with a weak solution of 

 boracic acid, permanganate of potash, or a similar non-poisonous 

 disinfectant. To be sure that the fermented matter is entirely 

 removed it is well to insert a finger in the orifice, otherwise the 

 whole process may have to be done over again, or the operation 

 will be unsuccessful. This done, the incision must be drawn 

 together and sewed up. A bent needle is best, making the stitches 

 about an eighth inch apart and tying them carefully. Sew the 

 inner skin first, and then the outer skin, and tie each stitch 

 separately. 



