Fattening and Killing Table and Export Poultry. 
79 
have evidence that the operation is extensively carried out to a successful issue in other countries, we 
much doubt whether it will become popular in Australia, requiring, as it does, the skill of a surgeon to 
manage successfully. In isolated instances it may be possible, but for the majority of our readers will be 
found far too complicated and dangerous to undertake. 
To those, however, who may feel interested on the question of caponising, we offer the following 
remarks : The operation is best performed on chickens twelve to fourteen weeks old, although it will 
succee'd if skilfully done with the majority of Fowls up to 12 months old. As with many other operations, 
this is one that can be learned more readily by seeing the operation performed, and we strongly advise those 
who would undertake it to procure instruction if at all available. Still, if one is i)Ossessed of confidence, 
success will be met with if the directions here given are faithfully followed. In the first place, a table is 
needed, in which a few screw rings are inserted at convenient places. These are furnished with broad tapes, 
by which the bird is securely held during the operation. The best plan a novice can follow is to kill a bird, 
in order to learn the position of the organs to be removed. Place the dead bird on the table, dispose it as 
hereafter described, and then place the screw rings where they would be needed to secure a live fowl. One 
or two tapes will be required to hold the wings, and one for each leg. Six will be all that will ever be 
necessary. Place the bird upon the table, and fasten it down upon its left side, as shown in Fig. 50, 
3. 
d 13 
Fig. 51. — Appliances for Caponising. 
I— Tweezers. 2. — Forceps. 3 — Hook. 4— Sprioghook. 
with the rings and tapes as described. The spot where the opening is to be made is shown by the X. Here 
the feathers are plucked, and an opening is made through the skin with a sharp knife or a pair of sharp- 
pointed, long-bladed scissors. The skin is drawn to one side, and an opening is made with the knife or 
scissors between the last two ribs, about i]/2 inches in length, great care being taken not to injure the 
intestines. The ribs are then separated by the spring hooks, so as to expose the inside. The intestines are 
gently moved out of the way with the handle of a teaspoon, and the glands, or testicles, will be found attached 
to the back. The tissue which covers them is torn open with the hook, aided by the tweezers. The gland 
is then grasped with the forceps, and the cord is held by the tweezers. The gland is then twisted off by 
turning the forceps, and when this has been done the other one is removed in the same way. Care must be 
taken not to injure the blood vessel which is connected with the organs, as this is the principal source of 
danger in the operation, and its rupture ivill have fatal results. The hook is then removed, and if the 
outside skin has been drawn backward at the outset, it will now slip forward and cover the inner wound 
which covers the intestines, thus closing the opening. No stitching is needed. A few feathers are drawn 
together on each side of the opening, and plastered down upon the skin with the blood, where they will dry, 
and form the best possible covering to the wound, which will begin to heal at once. The bird should be fed 
