Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
DEMAND JURY TRIAL.
Statement by DIR. Turner Respectfpp
DehOrnfng of Cattle

| Dehorn1ng OF Cattle.
DR.. John P. Turner and Julius Dieterich,
who, as stated In The Star OF yesterday.
were charged with cruelty to animals by
dehorning number of cattle at ST. Eliza
| beth's Asylum. today in the Police Court
asked for jury trial. which was granted.
, They were then released by Judge Kimball
| to await further proceedings
| DIR. Turner, the veterinarian, against
whom the Humane Society brought charges
| of cruelty to animals In the case Of de-
| horning a herd Of cows at st. Elzabeth's
| Insane Asylum. when seen today by Star
| reporter stated that an erroneous idea has
gone forth regarding such an operation and
the manner in which IT was performed,
| probably due to the fact that this operation
| is rather new to some residents of this
| city and probably the necessity of it mis-
understood by many.
DR.. Turner was an army veterinarian
| eight years and was formerly an inspector
| in the bureau of animal industry, Depart
ment of Agriculture. and while stationed
| in the west, he says. he saw the operation
| performed on thousands Of range cattle
and has performed Ii upon innumerable
animals, and states that the operation is
one of necessity. 1t is not inhuman, he
says, and not necessarily very painful when
performed in proper manner by de-
hornng instrument, and the animal thor
oughly secured to prevent IT from injuring
itself, done in the case mentioned
in The Star of last evening. The pain IL
not more than that of Withdrawing the
tooth of a person, the animal having the
advantage of only feeling the slight pain
for second and not contemplating ii for
some days, as does the human being.
Dehorning of cows, he says. has been
practiced 1000 years in India, and for
fifty years in the United States. When the
western ranges were cleared Of wolves, the
cattle no longer needed the horns to pro-
tect them from wild animals. and the horns
were removed to prevent the cattle from
goring each other and inluring those hav-
ing them in charge. Nine-tenths of all cat
tie are now dehorned in this country, both
as a humane act to the animal and from the
fact that IT makes them docile and easily
handled and fattened. Most of the best
farmers of Virginia and Maryland remove
the horns from their cows as an act Of hu-
manity, as in every herd there are over
bearing cows that are continually goring
and bruising the less pugnacious ones. 1t
is necessary to remove the horns from not
only the abusive COWS. but from the others
to put them on an equality.
In the asylum herd of eighty-nve COWS,
DIR. Turner says, all but thirty-eight were
without horns when purchased. and after
considering the matter thoroughly and
watching the horned cattle several months
abusing the polled cows. IT was deemed to
be an act of humanity to the latter TO de-
horn the offensive animals, which was done
in the most humane way and the cattle
properly treated surgtcally. That they SUI
fered but little pain and practically no
fever was evidenced. he says, from the
fact that the cows continued to give milk
as freely as before. and have since in
creased In their flow of milk owing to their
docility. -
DR.. Turner further states that the slight
pain occasioned by dehorning cows Is
nothing compared with that OF many oper-
atoms on domestic animals performed
every day In order that they may be SUBJ
feet to the will Of man and useful, safe
animals to handle.
The statements made OF cows bawling
from pain from loss of blood, etc, DIR. Ttr-
ner states. is not borne out by the RESPONSE
BILE persons who witnessed the operation.
Many cows Immediately began eating, and
q few minutes after the operation were
seen to be quietly resting. The law has
been tested I'm England, Canada and In
several states in this country, the doctor
states and with results which have
caused the almost universal adoption Of the
operation as one Of necessity and Of hui
mainly. such being the reasons for its per-
Torrance on the St. Elizabeth herd