Page:The Hog.djvu/150

148 cord; tie a piece of bread to the cord and present it to the animal, and when he opens his mouth to seize the bait, catch the upper jaw in the noose, run it tight, and the animal is fast."

Another means is to catch one foot in a running noose suspended from some place, so as to draw the imprisoned foot off the ground; or to envelop the head of the animal in a cloth or sack.

But, so far as it can be, all coercion should be avoided, for the pig is naturally so averse to being handled, that in his struggles he will often do himself far more mischief than the disease we seek to investigate or remedy would effect.

Here again the observations with which we closed the preceding paragraph are applicable, for there are more instances than one on record in which the pig has, in his struggles, ruptured some vessel and died on the spot, or so injured himself as to bring on inflammation and subsequent death. Whenever it is possible, the medicine should be mingled with a portion of food, and the animal thus cheated or coaxed into taking it. Where this cannot be done, the following is the best method:— Let a man get the head of the animal firmly between his knees, without, however, pinching it, while another secures the hinder parts. Then let the first take hold of the pig's head from below, raise it a little, and incline it slightly towards the right, at the same time separating the lips on the left side so as to form a hole into which the fluid may be gradually poured, not more being introduced into the mouth at a time than can be swallowed at once. Should the beast snort or choke, the head must be released for a few moments, or he will be in danger of being strangled.

The operation of ringing is performed in order to counteract the propensity swine have to dig and furrow up the earth. The ring is passed through what appears to be a prolongation of the septum, between the supplemental, or snout-bone, and the proper nasal. The animal is thus unable to obtain sufficient purchase to use his snout with any effect without causing the ring to press so painfully upon the part that he is speedily compelled to desist. But the ring is apt to break, or it wears out in process of time and has to be replaced. The operation is most painful, and the shrill squeaks of the animal undergoing it cause it to be a perfect nuisance to the neighborhood.

John Lawrence gives the following directions concerning this