The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-01-19
Agricultural.

examined the physical structure of man. are
aware that the back bone is composed Of sue
cessive vertebr;e called the ccrvical, dorsal
lumbar, etc, through which runs n canal con-
tanning the spinal cord. The spinal cord IS con-
nected with the brain by the mednla oblon.
gaia, properly continuation Of the brain,
and 10y means of it impressions are conveyed
to and from the mind. The stimulus of the
Will applied to the brain u.s. by means of the
spinal cord. communicated to the muscles, -
There arc seven Of the cervical or neck vcrtc.
brfe. From the third, fourth, and fifth of
these iamcnts, of the spinal cord are given
out, forming in conjunction with branch of
the sympathetic, the phrenic nerve which
communicates with the diphragm, and enters
the chest. carrying the nervous force which
issues from the medulla, and which is neces-
sary to the performance of respiration and
drglntition. Below the fifth ccrv;ca vertebra
or what is considered the origin of the neck.
the spinal cord may be injured and person
yet live for some time the effect being ces-
satlon of the control of the mind over that
part of the body below The place of injury,
which would not occasion immediate death.-
But harm done to the cord above the fifth
ceryica vertebra affects the phrenic nerve.
and thence the organs of respiration and
deg Tuition, causing instant death.
AS proof Of this. PARIS laborer, who had
fallen from scallold, expired instantly, on
the surgeons turning his head gently to one
side. At first no injury could be discovered.
but closer eXamina ton showed that the ia IL
had shattered his spinal column, and splin-
ter had been brought in contact with the
cord by moving his head The structure of
the backbone of many ANIMALS corresponds
with that of the human system, and the
IA t
when considered IN connection with the
slaughterlng Of cattle. The cartilage uniting
the vertebrsc in the human neck are so firm
as to render it a very difficult matter to pen
citrate to the spinal cord /: and it is well that
it is so, for were it otherwise, suicide would
be much more frequent. The spinal cord in
cattle is more easily reached. One of ther
cervlcal vertebrn, known among butchers as
the . button" is followed out. leaving but
thin covering of bone over the cord. By
thrustlng knife blade a hal an inch breadth
INTO this concavity, the cord is pierced, and
the animal drops Immediately, not dead, but
momentarlly Supplied, when it can be dis
patched IN the usual manner If the animal
holds It's head erect, this " button" can be
felt neatly parallel with he root Of the horns
II the head is kept in a downward position,
1t is to be found four inches lower down on
the neck. Mr.. Bowling, of Long Island, in
forms us that he pursues this plan very sue
cessfully, and that it does away with those
cruel scenes incident to the shambles, from
the necessity Of knocking animals in the
head. in order to subdue them Sufficiently to
allow OF cutting their throats. Indeed it is
not untrcqnently the case that large, power.
lui OK, tor instance, Is scarcely affected bv
the helculean blows Of the butchers axe IN
or its forehead, and thereby is the occasion of
much trouble. There would be no advantage
gained In making Use Of this plan in the
slaughter o.: smaller animals, which is accom-
panied with comparative little inconvenience.
Tn this point, the last number of the Lon
don Lancet contains communication from
son of DR.. Carson, who recommends the
'cnllapsion of the lungs as the best mode of
slaughter. We give the main portion of the
article: Being so thoroughly convinced of
the superiority of meat killed by this mode.
| have had sheep, calves, lambs, and pigs
slain in this way, and for nearly two years
my butcher has continually practiccd It.
have not allowed him to attempt the slaueh.
tel Of oxen, for which. indeed, he has not
suitable tackle; but his man now kills with
The greatest facility the animals have men.
toned. Every one who pnrtakcs of the meat
admits its super ority in flavor, tenderness,
and Jucness. 1t keeps longer than meat
Killed in the ordinary way. 1t cures admira-
bly,, and is, without doubt, more nutritious.
a number of scientific men in London have
tested 1t, and they have all expressed to me
their great appreciation of it but am not at
liberty, at present, to publish their Names
The first process in killing is by colapSion
Of the lungs" which can he done in from
about twenty to thirty seconds and imme-
dlalely afterwards, in order to facilitate death,
10 destroy irritability by cutting the spinal
cord. The animal dies Immediately, and in
the operation only few drops Of blood are
lost. In dressing, the only blood which
flows away is venous: it is as dark as pitch:
1t soon coagulates and becomes solid mass,
and is perfectly free from serosity. About
one-hali more of the blood and all the firm
juices are retained by this process than in
animals slaughtered in the ordinary manner
in sheep, perhaps, three pounds weight.
and in an OK as much as twenty. In seeing
tho butcher dress the animal, the inquring
and thinking physiologist will be particular
" struck with tie appearance of the bowels
and viscera, and veins and arteries of which
resemble red Melted work, and which, in the
ordinary mode of slaughter are perfectly Sim
pie. requires little practice, aud if attempt
cd by an unskllled person may end in failure.
My butcher suspends the animal by the fore.
feet. the carcass being quite off the ground
and the hind-ieet are fastened to ring in
the floor to keep the animal steady. He then
makes an inciSion into the chest with
Scapel on each side between the fifth and
sixth ribs, after which you hear the air dis
tinctly rushing into the chest, But in order
to make the collapse as complete as possible
| | have m do tba m n n Ia al Ito
bags with a valve. The operation with him
is now perfectly successful, and he never
makes mistake" The editor of the Lancet
says, in note, that leg of Chcvio. mutton
was Sent him by Mr. Carson, cut from a sheep
which had been killed according to the above
method. and that although cooked in the or
binary way, it certainly was unusually good,
with reference to tenderness. flavor, and the
large quantity Of gravy which it afforded.
The Methodist.
MANAGEMENT OF CREAM IN COLI WEATHER.
For some reason not yet known, cream
l.f,. ~ IA. = 4