508 



POULTRY CULTURE 



should be about Y^ inch from the center of the backbone or 

 vertebra. The incision should be about 1 inch long. As a 

 nerve, artery, and vein pass along the posterior border of each 

 rib it is necessary to not cut close to the posterior border, but 

 make the incision close to the anterior border of the last rib. 



A second incision is now made in the same wound, this 

 time cutting through the abdominal muscles. Care must be 

 exercised not to cut too deep and injure the internal organs. 

 If the peritoneum (the thin and rather glistening tissue lining 

 the abdominal cavity) is not cut, this can be broken through 

 by aid of the hook and the spreaders inserted. Now tear 



Fig. 206. — A set of caponizing instruments: a, The knife; b, the spread- 

 ers; f, the hook for tearing the peritoneum; d, the instrument for removing 

 the testes. 



through the walls of the air-sac and push the intestines to 

 one side and the top testis will be in plain view. The -testis 

 will appear bean shaped, about Yi inch long and yellowish 

 white in color. It lays up close to and is attached by connec- 

 tive tissue to the body of the vertebra and large abdominal 

 blood-vessels. If it is the desire to remove both testes through 

 the one opening, it is necessary to tear through the mesentery 

 or web-like membrane supporting the viscera, care being taken 

 not to make the opening too close to its attachment to the 

 backbone or vertebra, or fatal hemorrhage may take place as a 

 result of rupturing these delicate vessels. 



