Fig. 287.—Fixing two limbs of one side for the operation of bistournage.
The practitioner, however, is often content with much less perfect methods, using either the so-called “bulldogs” or the nose ring, which may usually be so manipulated as to control all but the most dangerous animals. The nose ring is seldom employed except for bulls, which are usually ringed at an early age; the “bulldogs” can be employed and removed at will.
In inserting a nose ring the head is securely fixed, the centre line of the muzzle is grasped with the left hand, and the septum nasi is pierced with a straight bistoury, the cutting edge being turned in a backward direction; the aperture being thus prepared, the ring is introduced and fixed. Some operators prefer to use a trocar, slightly exceeding in diameter the ring to be worn; in that case the manual technique is the same. The puncture is made, the trocar alone is withdrawn, and the canula remains in situ; one extremity of the ring is then inserted into the canula, and both are drawn through the septum together. There is no difficulty in thus inserting the ring, though puncture with the trocar is perhaps rather less convenient than with the bistoury.
Fig. 288.—Fixing an ox for the examination of a hind limb.
Relative control without casting may also be effected by attaching the end of the tail to the base of the horns or the head to the cannon bone of a front or hind limb. These methods, however, are of little value except to prevent animals at grass from escaping entirely during operation.
CONTROL BY CASTING.
Oxen should always be cast on a thick straw bed to avoid fracturing the horns.
The simplest method consists in using hobbles and ropes, as for the horse.
