Year: 1874

DR.. Slade, Prof of Veterinary Science at


Bussey Institute, Harvard College, recent
| " read Il paper before the Massachusetts
Board OF Agriculture upon the subject from
which we extract what follows: DIR. Slade


spoke on the subject of killing domestic


animals, both for food and to relieve them


of the burden OF life in case Of disease or


old age. Animals for food are killed in


several different ways-by striking blow
on the head that stuns the animal, follow
ed by immediate bleeding; by driving a
sharp needle or thin knife through the
neck, seyering the spinal cord, called pith-


ing by cutting the throat, as practiced by
the Jews Many experiments have been
made to determine the most humane
method of taking life, and to learn what


Is death and when it occurs.


Seyering the head from the body with a
knife, as by the guilotine, does not cause
instant death The body has two motions,
those which are voluntary. and those
which are involuntary. Bodily motions
are not sure indications of pain There
may be pain without notion and motion
without pam 10 constitute pain, the
brain must be in connection with the body
injured Piercing the nervous center in
the neck. Just back of the head is suppos-
ed to cause instant DEATH but the spot to
be aimed at is small and liable to be miss
ed except by experts, Probably the best
method OF killing is to strike Il stunning
blow on the head, and then bleed immedi-
atelN, by cutting the arteries and veins con-
meeting the heart with the head. The brain
in animals is smaller than most people sup
pose, and is situated higher up. 1t is a
common mistake to strike too low down
on the face, causing severe pain without
killing 1t is best TO blndfold animals be
fore attempting to strike To find the spot
on the head of II horse, draw Il line across
the head through the pits above the eyes.
\ blow, or BETTER Il pistol ball, in the
center of this line will Kill instantly Ii is
advisable to dig the grave tor horse with
one end on an inclined plane that he may
be led in. Then when shot, he will fall to
the bottom. thus saving much labor in
moving and placing in position.


llic doctor did not recommend the gen
eral use Of chlorotorm for killing large.
strong animals. lie believes the sensation
OF sutfocation is often more cruel than Kill
ling by blow Cattle should also be blind
folded, and the blow should fall about one
and half inches below the horns, in the
centre Of the head The tendency is to
strike too low on the OK as well as the horse
The same may be said of the hog This
animal shouldb be struck three or four inches
above the eyes The line on sheep and
calves is about one and half inches above
the ewes. 1t is gen, rally believed that
swine should not be stunned before bleed
ing The lecturer Said he thought this a
mistaken idea as they would bleed equally
as well as if bled without first stunning
One ofthemost sickening sounds ever heard
on the farm is that from the hog, during
its last struggles, and there is no good
reason why the present custom should be
continued.


There is perhaps no better method Of
of kittens than by drowning
Dogs may be instantly killed by shooting
above the ears at the side OF the head


When dressing poultry, do not cut OIL
their heads and throw them down to kick
and tlutter on the ground 1t does not have
4 good moral influence on the Young
people OF the household Better strike
hard blow on the head. and bleed the same
a. other animals. Fishes for food should
be killed. and not left to die The food is
much more wholesome. and Keeps longer,
There is no reason WHY fishes should be eN-
ccpted from the general rllc that animal
food should be bed. Ii is also very IN
human to let fish die by slow DEGREES ont
1T il natural element