26 
deprive them instantly of life and feeling, 
is that which will have a similar effect 
upon the whole animal creation, namely, 
to divide the spinal marrow. This may 
be effected in the eel by a deep wound 
made just behind the head, or, as we 
should say, in the nape of the neck. 
Doubtless the eel may move after this, 
asa convulsive motion of the muscles 
will remain in a decapitated body; but 
a separation of the marrow from the 
brain is supposed to destroy all sense of 
pain, and is the most deadly wound 
which can be inflicted; and, as an Irish 
fishman lately said in my hearing, if an 
éel chuses to live after such a body-blow 
as that, he may e’en take his own choice, 
and by Jasus, nobody can help it! Other 
fish may be put to restin a similar way, 
or by thrusting an awl, or any pointed 
instrument, through the brain. 
This topic naturally extends to other 
‘animals. Great pains have been taken 
to introduce the Continental mode of 
killing oxen, by dividing the spinal mar- 
row, and it is most easy and effectual ; 
but the obstinate attachment of butchers 
to knock-down arguments seems uncon- 
querable. These fellows plead that they 
can fell an ox at a blow: but the writer 
of this has been the reluctant and mise- 
rable} witness of a wretcned animal, the 
tamest possible, receiving a score blows, 
and yet bursting his bonds, and escaping 
his savage executioners. It afterwards 
took several blows to bring this tortured 
victim to the ground. It was dreadful to 
observe the terrified feelings of the poor 
beast in his apprehensive eyes! yet the 
whole scene afforded high pleasurable 
gratification to the beasts in human 
shape whichsurrounded him. As batch- 
ers will not relinquish this cruel practice, 
they ought to be provided with leathern 
winkers, or blinds, to hang: over the eyes 
of the beast, by which he would be pre- 
vented from seeing and expecting the 
fatal stroke, and a penalty ought to be 
imposed on a neglect of their use. The 
beadle of the market might regulate the 
killing of eels. is 
To extend this to two other objects— 
‘eats and dogs generally suffer unneces- 
sary outrages on their feelings, in the 
necessary, often merciful step, of de- 
priving them of life. From their activity 
‘and their claws, it 1s, indeed, no easy 
thing to kill a cat, from which cause we 
may date great part of their sufferings. I 
remember a lady at Brentford, who was 
weary of her cat for some trifling reason, 
and desired John to get rid of it. The. 
On Humanity to, Anunals, 
fFeb. 1, 
unfeeling rascal was seen holding the for- 
saken animal up by the tail, to drop into 
the jaws of four or five hunting-dogs, by 
which, after a conflict of considerable 
length, to use the expression of my in~ 
formant, ¢ its quivering heart and bowels 
were torn out!’ A late author has, in- 
deed ignorantly, repeated the nonsense 
of Buffon, about the sedfisk and bad qua-~ 
lities of the cat; and such groundless 
notions have ever exposed those useful 
domestics to the most barbarous usage 
and neglect. The easiest way to send an 
unfortunate and useless cat to its place 
of rest, is to tie it up ina bag, stun it with 
an effectual blow upon the head, and 
then commit the bag to a pail of water , 
holding the bag pressed down with a mop 
or broom. Few struggles will ensue. In 
hanging a dog, most painful and disgust- 
ing as usually practised, a handkerchief 
or bandage should be made fast upon his ~ 
eyes,-and a decisive blow laid upon his 
head, previously to his being drawn up. 
Let none think slightly of reducing the 
mass of suffering, whether of men or 
beasts ; but whoever is so disposed, is 
welcome to find a parody for Swift’s well- 
known rule, that “ a clean man is a man 
of nasty ideas.” 
In the important affair of fleas, I can. 
promise W. J.J. redress with the utmost 
confidence, If he will take the pains to 
turn over the noble historian, Lord Cla- 
rendon, he will find, in a certain page, 
but I cannot say which, that in a certain 
conversation, held between that noble 
lord and the Earl of. Essex, the earl re- 
marked. on a somewhat different occa- 
sion, that “ stone-dead hath no fellow.” 
Sat verbum. And Tassure W. J. J., on L 
know not how many years’ experience, 
that there 1s no remedy for the plague of 
fleas, but in totally destroying them, a 
thing to be accomplished by attention 
and perseverance. Nothing can with- 
stand the possibility and practice of era- 
dication. The marks of fleas upon the 
necks of the children of property, too 
often visible, are most scandalous tokens 
of a defect of cleanliness and economy 
inthe nursery. Ablutions and: cleanli- 
ness are the first steps, the next diurnal 
measures of extermination, whilst a single 
flea is left, supposing even the hunt to 
continue ten years. In March and Sep- 
tember this species of game, to destroy 
which requires no licence, is said to be 
most plentiful. The hunters. should well 
‘beat those convenient coverts, the blan- 
kets. 
“Washing the floors and walls of 
the rooms with lime-water, is said to be 
WOE). a good 
