Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-04-03
COMM UNECATIONS.
The Slaughter OF Cattle.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
DIR. E. Mueller, veterinary physician of Stet-
tin, Germany, the legal expert of Prussia
gives the following judgment as the result of
his observations:
AS far as l know the talmudic laws for the
slaughter of cattle for food require the Sc
curing of the animal by throwing it into a
suitable position on its back; then the neck
is to be stretched smooth and the muscles in
front and back of the airpipe, the airpipe it
self, the large nerves and blood vessels to
both sides of it. and the throat is to be cut
crosswise by drawing a sharp, notchless
knife continually across the parts described,
so that all blood leaves the body quickly and
in an easy way.
Opposed to this method is the usual one
followed by Christian butchers, namely, first
to knock the animal insensible by hard blows
on the forehead and then to stab it between
the first two ribs on each side, thus causing
death by cutting the large blood vessels OF
the heart.
In practice both serve their end, but pref
erence is to be given to the Jewish method,
it being safer and producing less pain. On
account of the cutting of the large blood ves-
sells leading to and from the brain anamia
(bloodlessness) of the brain at once sets in,
causing faintness and insensibility in which
life ends Except the pain caused by the
sudden passing of the knife land this is but
momentary) death takes place in the most
painless way possible.
The blows on the forehead practised by
Christian butchers do not as easily bring
insensibility, and when executed by inexperi-
enced persons, it must be repeated several
times before the animal falls Often notice
oxen tearing away after the first few strokes
and run about with bleeding heads, half in
sensible; in such cases this method is simply
barbarous. Considering these facts solely,
we would prefer the slaughter in accordance
with, Jewish rites.
The Hebrew lawgiver has ordered with A.
right, practical knowledge that cattle used
for food should be treated with the utmost
possible mildness. The knife must be notch
less and extremely sharp, because, as is well
known, q cut with such knife is connected
with the least pain. He also instituted that
only such men should kill who by satisfacto-
ry examination can prove sufficient knowl-
edge and experience, and no other person is
allowed to slaughter. This, together with
the Mosaic idea that the shedding of blood
hardens man, restricted the liberty and put
upon slaughter sort of priestly stamp
La reviewing the judgment before me,
there is yet third method to be mentioned
This consists in pushing sharp p-pointed
knife between the heightened spine and the
first vertebra. The animal at once falls
stint. But the action of the oerebrum
Qarge brain) does not stop at once, conscious
ness Is retained Ior tlme ana the animal
dies under immense pain. For the sake of
humaneness this method should be entirely
forbidden.
In the most recent time fourth method
was invented, that of the mask. A leather
mask is pulled over the forehead and ewes of
the animal. In the upper third of this mask
right in front of the Uranium, there is an iron
thorn about 20 cm. long and or en-. thick
This thorn is easily driven into the brain by
mallet, causing instant, painless death
But irregularities often occur which are nre.