A cool head, good eye and steady hand are the prime essentials in the pit. The successful pitter must bath blind and deaf to everything but the work in front of him. Pay absolutely no attention to any conversation directed to you, and no matter what takes place, never take your eye from the cocks and the other handler. Many an otherwise good handler is easily rattled and especially at critical stages and right here is where you can lose a fight that belongs to you on a technicality. Always time yourself so as to get into the pit with the other handler; should he show a tendency to keep you waiting, hand him back a liberal of the same medicine the next battle and he will be pretty sure to cut it out. If you don't know your opponent and have never handled against him before, study him well and try him out the first battle. You can then map out your campaign for the balance of the battles. If he shows an inclination to length of time, make up your mind that he is a little shy on the light, and therefore don't give him but two or three bites. If you happen to have a vicious cock in the first battle, hold him well under the other cock, letting the other cock do the beaking and manage if you can to let your cock take a bite of the other handler's hand; watch him closely at this stage and see if he is inclined to be nervous.
When through beaking it is important to set your cocks as quickly as possible; never let the other man get his cock down first, for if you can catch the other cock before he is fully set, you have the advantage for the first wallop. Never hover over the cocks while they are fighting and insist that your opponent keep clear. The referee will always back you up in this. Also watch that your opponent when the cocks are fast, does not approach in such a manner as to hide the referee's view. This is important through all stages of the counting as the referee should have an opportunity to see absolutely if the cocks are showing fight.
When the cocks are fast get to them instantly and watch closely that the opposing handler does not injure your cock. Never take the count when your cock has the best of it, in fact, never take the count until you are reasonably sure that the other cock will not show again. As long as your cock has the other cock going, the more he can cut him right then and there, the quicker he will stop him or kill him. There is a very important point, for many times a badly damaged cock when given a minute's rest has one wallop left that will put you down and out. If you are fighting under rules where your opponent can count for both cocks and, desiring to rest his cock, counts for you, immediately claim the count, and count your cock down as rapidly as possible, giving your opponent the shortest possible rest.
When it is your cock that is going down first from severe punishment lose no opportunity to count him up and nurse him. To skillfully nurse a badly injured cock, and get another kick out of him seems to be an art possessed by but a few men. It is not only laughable, but remarkable, the antics some handlers will go through. I have seen a 200 pound man place a badly injured cock on the floor of the pit and put almost his entire weight on him. I don't know what he thought he was doing but I do know that he was helping the other cock win. A severely cut cock should be handled with the same delicate touch that a skillfull physician handles a new born baby. He should be taken up with both hands, one on either side; with the little fingers catch the feet and draw them carefully up under him and rest him in this normal easy position. If under rules which allow it, sponge his head with a solution of one part whiskey to nine parts water. When you are ready to set him down do not release his feet until just ready to stand him on them. If he is blinked, always give him his good eye to the other cock, unless you have reached that stage of the count where you come to a breast, then breast him if possible with blind side on, this is essential if you know the other cock will fight back when struck but will not make fight without it.
In case of a severe couple little can ever be done. You will see men try to pull cocks apart, trying to reduce what is termed couple. If what they believe took place really had taken place it would be more matter of pushing the joint back into place with your thumb. What is commonly termed a couple, where a leg is affected, is caused by a severe blow at the nerve center on top of the back, which causes paralysis of one side, and occasionally both sides. Sometimes if the blow is not severe the cock will work out of it. The only assistance that you can give is to rub the back, stroking with an even pressure toward the tail.
Wry neck is another injury almost impossible to assist. The blow that causes it is delivered near the base of the neck and is an injury to what might be termed the spinal cord. You gain nothing by stretching the cock's neck out, but you can sometimes help it by rubbing gently with the thumb at the base of the neck letting the fingers support the under side where it joins the breast, and work your thumb around with a gentle pressure.
Broken bones are also a tough proposition. We occasionally see a cock win with a broken leg or wing. All else being equal it is ten to two that the cock with the broken wing loses, and ten to one that a cock with a broken leg loses. There is nothing gained by trying to up or by cutting it off, though you will often see this practiced. All that you can assist your cock is in seating him and steadying him all you can. If it is permissable or the other handler does not object, steady your cock until the other cock is within striking distance. When your cock is down on his back, always turn him onto his broken wing. If he is a cock that is willing to fight at every opportunity, and you watch closely, when doing this, the position of the other cock, it often happens that you can get a good blow in this way, usually under the wings where it will do some damage.
If it is a case of a broken leg, always lay him on that side and as far away from the other cock as possible. If he is a cock that will reach up and bill and then kick you have a small chance of winning. In the case of a broken leg or wing and your opponent cannot punish a down cock, your aim should be to prolong the battle as much as possible, that is of course if you know you have got a game cock that will claim until dead, for often times the other fellow gets tired and quits his job, even though not badly punished.
In case of a throat cut, try to rub the blood down into the crop. If you can do this, you can get a lot of fight out of your cock. If it is a long cut, get it out of him as fast as possible, by what is termed the clinging process, give him a rapid side motion, with a sudden stop, which will usually eject it.
The instant you are satisfied that you have no show to win a fight give the fight to your opponent by handing him his cock. Be graceful about it, telling him what a nice cock it is, and how you wished you had a main like him. He may not return the compliment, but you will have the crowd with you.
Always see your opponent's cock weighed and examine the heels used to see that they confrom to the rules. Do not leave this to your assistant; this is your business - attend to it yourself.
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