96 
THE POULTEY BOOK. 
the exertion of leaping up would unquestionably injure the wound; it should, 
therefore, at night be turned into a room where it is obliged to rest on the floor 
previously covered with some clean straw. For three or four days after the 
operation the bird should be fed on soft food ; after that time it may be set at 
liberty for a short period, until it has recovered entirely from the operation, when 
it should be put up to fatten. 
In France it is customary to cut off the combs of the capons. This is regarded 
as a distinguishing mark of the operation having been performed, and consequently 
the birds do not sell so freely if they are allowed to remain. 
‘‘If the animal mopes about on the day follov/ing the operation, it is desirable 
to look at the wound, and, should it be inflamed, to bathe it with a little tepid 
water. If, however, the intestine has been wounded, there is no chance of re- 
covering. Some persons place oil and other applications on the wound ; but 
there is no doubt that they retard the healing process. As a general rule, it may 
be stated that if the operation has been skilfully performed it rarely fails of success.” 
It is a very singular fact that after giving the above specific and very correct 
details of the operation of caponizing, the author of the treatise denies the possi- 
bility of making what are termed “ poulardes,” that is, pullets deprived of their 
power of reproduction in order to induce them to fatten rapidly ; and states that 
the birds which are sold under that title are simply pullets fattened before they 
have commenced to lay. The operation is, however, much easier than the cor- 
responding one on the cocks. The pullet is to be placed in the same position on 
the lap of the operator, the left leg being drawn forwards so as to expose the left 
flank, in which a longitudinal incision is to be made close to the side bone ; this 
will bring to view the lower bowel, and alongside of it will be found the egg-passage 
or egg-pipe. If this is drawn to the orifice of the wound by a small hooked wire, 
and cut across — or, what is perhaps better, a very short piece of it removed — 
the development of the ovary or egg-producing organ is entirely prevented, and the 
birds fatten rapidly, attaining also a very large size. It is most important to 
perform the operation before the pullets have begun to lay. We would beg to impress 
most strongly the desirability of practising these operations in the first instance on 
dead birds of the same age, so that the operator may become acquainted with the 
situation and appearance of the parts concerned. By this means a greater amount 
of success will be attained in the first instance, and much unnecessary suffering 
saved to the animals. 
The operation of making capons and poulardes is, as we have shown, attended 
with considerable danger. The advantages gained are slight in comparison vfith 
the risk of losing the bird, and with the positive amount of unnecessary pain in- 
flicted on the animal. We would, therefore, by no means recommend its adoption, 
though, in accordance with our desire to make this work as perfect as possible as a 
poultry book, we have placed before our readers the most approved and scientific 
method of effecting it, as practised by the most intelligent and successful rearers 
of poultry for the great markets of Paris and other large cities in France. 
