OCR Text |
Show TO PREVENT HORNS GROWING Operation May Be Performed by Simple Sim-ple and Painless Method How Caustic Is Applied. (Ily R. W. HICKMAN ) When circumstances are favorable, aa In the case of farmers who build up their herds by raising the progeny, the horns may be prevented from growing by a simple and practically painless method, and the custom of preventing the growth of horns Is becoming be-coming more popular and more generally gen-erally practiced under all conditions. The calf should be treated sot later than one week after Ita birth, prefer ably when It I from three to five days old. The agent to be used may be either caustic soda or caustic potash, both o( which may be procured in the drug stores In the form of sticks about the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil and five Inches long. These caustics must be handled with care, as tbej dissolve the cuticle and may make the bands or Augers sore. The preparation prepara-tion of the calf consists In first dipping dip-ping the hair from the parts, washing clean with soap and warm water, and thoroughly drying with a towel ot cloth. The stick of caustic should be wrapped In a piece of paper to protect the hande and fingers, leaving one end of the stick uncovered. Moisten the uncovered end slightly and rub It on the horn buttons or little points which may be felt on the calf's head, first on one side and then the 'w- " ' Dehorning Cattle. other alternately, two or three times on each, allowing the caustic to dry after each application. Be very careful care-ful to apply the caustic to the horn button only. If It Is brought In contact con-tact with the surrounding skin IX will cause pain. Be very careful akso not to have too much moisture on the stick of caustic, as It will remove the skin If allowed to run down over the face. After treatment, keep the calf protected from rain, aa water on the bead after the application of caustic will cause it to run down over the face. This must be carefully avoided. Either caustic soda or caustic potash alone, without the admixture of other substance, sub-stance, answers the purpose very satisfactorily. In the very young calf the horn button, or point that will ultimately develop Into a horn, baa scarcely any attachment to the skull, and may be ' felt aa a small button embedded In the skin. In this early stage It may be easily removed with a aharp knife or a pair of scissors, but even then caustics should be applied to kill any remaining cell life belonging to this germ point, otherwise there may be some subsequent Irregular born growth, which is more or less of a disfigurement. |