42 BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 
attribute the greatest amount of suffering to the one that at the time 
of death exhibits the most violent convulsions. In such a conjecture, 
however, we may be,very much mistaken, for it is possible, nay, even 
probable, that there may be ;acute suffering with scarcely a struggle 
on the part of the animal; while, on the other hand, there may be 
much struggling, and even distortions, ‘without pain or sensations of 
any kind, as is often made evident in cases of decapitation, where, as we 
have just remarked, all connection with the brain has been removed. 
Thus we see that the movements of an animal in the act: of being 
killed are not at all to be relied upon as evidences of pain. 
The term “ pithing ” is applied to two methods of inflicting injury 
to the nervous system, and thereby producing death. By one method, 
that most commonly in vogue, the spinal cord is severed or punctured 
between the first and second bones of the neck, where the peculiarity 
of the articulation leaves an opening. This is done by a variety 
of instruments. Although the animal drops immediately, life con- 
tinues for some seconds and even minutes, the heart continues to 
beat, and the brain to live and act. By the other method, a small 
spot situated in the lower and posterior portion of the brain, known 
as the ‘“‘medulla oblongata,” is reached and broken up by the intro- 
duction of a narrow sharp instrument through the occipital hole. 
Death is almost instantaneous. “No attempt is made at inspiration, 
there is no struggle, and no appearance of suffering. The animal 
dies simply by a want of aeration of the blood, which leads in a few 
moments to an arrest of the circulation.”* Both of these modes of 
slaughtering, especially the last, require an anatomical knowledge 
as well as a practical dexterity that but few would attain, and, if they 
are not properly and quickly executed, are undoubtedly attended by 
more suffering than other methods. . 
Without entering further into the consideration of physiological 
questions of so much importance, we may with safety lay down the 
following proposition : — 
All animals, when slaughtered, should be deprived of sensibility 
by inflicting sufficient injury to the brain, either by a sudden and 
violent blow of the axe or mallet, by the bullet, or by some other 
equally efficient means, and should then be immediately bled during 
the state of insensibility. 
* Dalton’s Physiology, First Edition, p. 381. 
