Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-07
DEHORNlNC CATTLE.
An Experts Views and Recommendations
on the subject.
uiaitimore SUM-


pehornlng cattle has been practiced TO
some extent in Texas. and the subject Is
arousing general attention there among
s,ock-raigers and In the West also. gem
tlnman largely interested In the ca'''e
trade OF Baltimore In recent IMP "
Texas ascertained that no supJec' was
of more present interest and lmpoi 'a'le'
TO the livestock interest imam ihIs va
and on his return referred tht nd't'.
Dr. Robert Ward. +. Il. {. v D. 81 20, g.,
tlrnore. the Chief Veterinary lhspeCto' 80
the Slate OF Maryland. In repE ~
Ward writes as follows; .,.o
"The removal Of the horns ol
does not originate from iashloh' nm -.
operation Of docking pracuced on hoi ..,o
INST 10 give the animals Enghsh S'' -
80, ,ro,n necessity on the ranch on
,h. cars and on the boat Goi1nE one
another costs the stock-raiscr many nun
d,ods az dollars annually. Packing ioi
,rsnei, on cars is much safer " animals
are polIed. mollicd. or bufaio-heau- ~ an
when II comes 20 packing cattle on p1alu
an ocean cattle-boat for Iohs Jo". -
those hornless creatures fare better IMAM
those possessing horns. ,,..,
ION the other side OF the ques'ion'
there is the packing OF these no"
cattle when attacked by Mes theS W"
rush TO each other. and jam the'nSe'Ne
together 10 keep these fly pests on anu
there they will remain until parteu ny
men delegated 20 separate them' '""-
corning the cruelty OF dehorninS thcie
has been much discussion on the subject
hut when the matter is taken up by
,bnsa who own the creatures and pear
tho losses Il Is matter OF dollars ana
cents as well az matter or cruelly'
pain is our lot on this earth. but Whcn
one animal with a weapon furnished ny
nature for protection cores another from
pt;re deviIment. and thus insiruct3 others
10 follow it's evil example. 1t seems
or>.te natural that the owner Shoulh III
teryene and take the deadly weapon
away. Now. in such cases, dehorhlhg
seems an absolute necessity. and cruelty
has to be stamped out by IT, Tor surrey
II is cruel for animals TO be allowed 10
gore each other to death. IL IL. however
our duty to do these operations In as
mcrciful a manner as possible. and with
this view II is better To do IL when tho
animals are quite young; then there Is
no pain
"The operation. ~ such II may be
termed. is performed in very simple
way. All that Is needed Is a pair OF
sharp. curved scissors. a stick Of caustic
potash, cup OF clean water and n rope,
then catch the calf. fix the rope so that
the calf is cast and tied secure. trim
the hair off as close to the skin as pos
sible around the button or knob where
out the horn will come, then dip the
stick Of caustic in the cup OF water. and
rub It all around and over the button
well. then turn the calf. and do all this
on the other side: when this is done well
turn the calf. and repeat the dressing
and again turn the calf and repeat on
the other side. II this Is well done the
calf will never know what a horn IS
Now. some people will say that these
creatures will butt like the deuce Jus,
like the buffalo. but don't known much
about that; ] know buffalo-cows will, II
they go for you.
"On the other hand they say when ar
animal depends on his horns for mis-
chief. and they are taken away, he takes
himself Off too. rather than fight So
there may he some advantage In letting
the horns grow on a youngStcr till he
feels like fight. then off with the horns
and he becomes good. peaceful citizen
Then this operation IS best performed witt
p fine tenoning-saw. taking the horn Of
close 10 the hair-tuft, but don't touch th'
skin cd then the skin will curl over the
horn foot. and almost, II not quite. cover
II up. No dressing IS needed. generally
but IT may be as well 10 dab or spray tn
parts with a solution of bichlorlde o.
mercury, one 20 one thousand grains o
water. and then sprinkle a powder mad,
mp Of two parts boracic acid and one o
iodoform. The operation should always
be performed in the mild season, wheI
flies and frosts are absent
''1f it Is desired TO cover the horn root
after the operation. this can be done with
veterinary styptic collodlon, made by dis
solving powdered aloes, myrrh and shell
lac in spirits Of wine, which will, when
dissolved, form a strong coating when II
il carefully applied with brush; or the
usual cOllOdion, mixed with Canada
balsam and castor oil. can be used. which
Is termed flexible collodOn. ShOemakers
wax. Just melted and applied is used also
and answers very well when the Others
cannot be obtained. The object is TO OK.
cude the air Should there be muci
bleeding at any time. and II be desired r.
stop II, use tincture Of the perchlordt
OF iron on raw cotton"