MUNICIPAL HYGIENE 663 



was not sufficiently rapid, or free from unnecessary pain, 

 while loss of sensibility was not instantaneous. 



There is no doubt it should be made obligatory throughout 

 the country for all animals to be stunned before the knife 

 is employed, and it certainly cannot be a problem outside 

 mechanical skill to devise an arrangement for stunning an 

 ox with one blow. 



It appears to us that destruction of all animals by 

 decapitation, on the principle of a guillotine, might be 

 found practicable. 



To find the right spot for the destruction of a brain two 

 rules are given. One is a point which lies exactly halfway 

 between the base of one horn and the opposite eye ; the 

 second is to draw a line from the root of each ear to the 

 opposite eye, and where the two lines cross is the desired 

 spot. 



There are certain features in connection with the destruc- 

 tion of animals which require legislation. No person should 

 be allowed to destroy animals who does not possess a 

 certificate of qualification as a butcher, which certificate 

 should be granted only by the local authorities. 



Under no circumstances should any member of the public 

 be admitted to an abattoir during working hours. 



No person under eighteen should be permitted to be 

 employed in any abattoir. 



The steaming carcases of freshly-killed sheep and pigs 

 should not be exposed outside butchers shops to the gaze 

 of the curious, especially children. The abolition of private 

 slaughter-houses would get rid of this demoralizing sight. 



Inspection of Animals prior to Slaughter. 



This is an important part of any well-organized system 

 of meat inspection. The animals intended for food are 

 kept in suitable lairs in the abattoir, and rested after their 

 journey. This is to insure that the flesh has an opportunity 

 of recovering from the effects of fatigue, without which it 

 would both bleed and set badly, and be tough. 



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