I 



On Pithifig Catlk. 69 



rather, Huit the o-peratioii did not accord with the prlncipk, 

 t.o far as tendL-rncss towatds the anima! is concerned ; lor 

 though a beast is managed completely bv cliis mode, it is 

 not so certain that his sense of f'eeUng is destroyed. The 

 contrary indeed seems proved by thenicritorioiis pain-s taken 

 by Mr. Du Gard, of the Shrewsbnrv Infirmary, who has 

 shown in the following communication, that iliough the 

 spinal marrow was divided, llie nerves that supplied the or- 

 gans of respiration and most of the senses were uninjui'ed. 

 Mr. Du Card's experiments v.cre communicated to Mr. 

 Kverard Home, of London, a«d by him, through sir Joseph 

 iianks, to the Board. Mr. Home afterwards sent lord 

 Carrington the valuable paper that follov.-s Mr. Du Gard's, 

 in which he has suggested a mode of performing the ope- 

 ration w hieh would answer eomj-Jetclv, .-ould we be sure 

 of having operators siitficiently skilful. We may the less 

 regret the difficulty in getting new modes established, when 

 we thus sec the superiority of an old custom under verv 

 improbable circunistaiices ; and if well-meant refoinier^ 

 wanted .any additional motives to care and circumspection, 

 a very forcible one is furnished in the instance of the time 

 and trouble taken to introduce this operation, and which, 

 as it has been hitherto practised, is the verv reverse of w h:\t 

 was intended. 



Ol'scrvations mid E.rfxr/menfs on VUhhig Caffle. By 

 Thomas Du Gaud. 



" The subject of slaughterijig cattle by puncturing the 

 medulla spinalis, with a view of superseding the method 

 generally practised in England, has lately engaged the at- 

 teiuion of the Agricultural lioard, and been strongly reeom- 

 mended by them. 



** It is, I believe, universal in Portugal and other parts of 

 the continent, as well a* in sonic of our \\'cst India islands, 

 but is only of lale introduction into this country. 



" Pain and action are so generallv joined, that wc mea- 

 sure the degree of ]>ain by the loudness of the cries and 

 violence of the consequent exertion ; and therefore eon- 

 tJude, on seeing two animals killed, that the one which 

 makes genrcely a struggle, though it may continue to breathe, 

 Puffers less than that which is mure violently convulsed and 

 «truggles till life is exhausted. 



" h appears, however, that there may be acute pain 



without exertion, perhaps as certainly as there is action 



withoin pain ; even distortions that at the first glance would 



E 3 seem 



