236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



years since in tbe abattoirs of Paris, it would seem that the 

 first of these methods, namely, that of producing insensibility 

 by some sudden shock to the brain, such as that of a direct 

 and concentrated blow, especially if followed by immediate 

 blood-letting, is attended by less suffering than when death is 

 effected by decapitation, pithing, or cutting the throat with- 

 out previously producing such insensibility. 



A German observer * remarks upon this subject : '' All 

 methods of slaughtering have for their object the death of the 

 animal in a more or less speedy, but always in the least pain- 

 ful manner possible. But what is death? and when does 

 actual death occur? Simple as these two questions may 

 appear, they are nevertheless very difficult to answer. A 

 mammal whose head has been cut off by a guillotine does not 

 die immediately. Actual death occurs some seconds or 

 minutes afterwards. All methods of slaughtering than the 

 one in which insensibility is produced by a severe shock to 

 the brain, followed by bleeding, produce, without exception, 

 only apparent death, after which follows the actual death, the 

 latter being always accompanied Avith an entire cessation of 

 nervous and muscular excitability." 



There are two kinds of motion. The one is voluntary and 

 dependent upon the brain. So long as this organ remains 

 unimpaired, so long will consciousness, sensation and the 

 power of voluntary motion continue. The other is involun- 

 tary, and dependent upon the action of the spinal cord as a 

 nervous centre, and is known as reflex action. This kind of 

 motion is exhibited in the movements of animals after decapi- 

 tation, where all connection with the brain and consequently 

 with consciousness, has been cut off. 



In witnessing the slaughtering of two animals we are natu-r 

 rally inclined to attribute the greatest amount of suffering to 

 the one which struggles most, so intimately connected in our 

 minds are pain and action. This, however, by no means fol- 

 lows, for it is possible that there may be acute suffering with- 

 out exertion on the part of the animal, and on the other hand 

 there may be much action, and even distortions without 

 pain, as is constantly seen in cases of decapitation where as I 

 have first remarked, all connection with the brani has been 

 removed . 



* Dr. Sondcrmann of Munich. 



