506 



POULTRY CULTURE 



tions. The loop of the string is run through the hole on its 

 respective side and over the leg or base of the wings, and the 

 legs and wings drawn snugly down to the top, and the free end 

 of the strings wrapped around the hooks and given a half- 

 hitch. 



If the bird or birds are to be operated on in the forenoon no 

 feed should be given on the previous day. It is also well to 

 withhold water, as an abundance of water causes more hemor- 

 rhage, owing to the increased amount of liquid in the body 



Fig. 204. — An impro-sdsed operating-table for caponizing; o, Top of barrel; 

 b, weights to hold down the bird; c, cord looped around the legs and wings; 

 d, the spreaders holding the wound open; c, cannula for removing the testes. 



tissues. It is rather difficult to accurately and satisfactorily 

 operate when the intestines are gorged with food. 



The operation is best performed in the bright sunlight unless 

 the operator is provided with a head reflector. 



The instruments should be kept in a shallow pan of anti- 

 septic, as creolin, or, better, formaldehyd solution. A small 

 amount of absorbent cotton should also be at hand. After 

 the bird is confined pluck a few feathers over the field of opera- 

 tion, which is between the last two ribs. It is well to place a 

 small chunk of ice in the pan of antiseptic and use the ice-water 



