BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 43 
It is important to know the exact situation of the brain in animals, 
so that the shock to this organ may be conveyed effectually and at 
once, and not by clumsy SOME gy IL 
and ill-directed efforts, as { 
is too often the case. 
It should be Kept in 
mind that: the brain of © 
animals occupies but a SS 
comparatively small portion of the entire head. In the attempt. to 
fell them, the tendency is almost always to strike too low. Fig. 1 rep- 
resents a longitudinal section of the horse’s head, showing the situa- 
tion of the brain, and also the thinness of the frontal bone a as com- 
pared with the corresponding region in the ox (Fig. 3). 
The horse may be destroyed by blows upon the head, by the bullet, 
or by chloroform. 
1. By Blows. — Having led the animal to a suitable spot, blindfolded, 
and secured him by the halter, the operator, armed with a heavy axe 
or hammer, should stand upon the left and to the front of the animal, 
directing his blow to a point in the middle of a line drawn across the 
forehead from the centre of the pit above the eye. See Fig. 2. 
One vigorous and well-directed blow will fell the animal, but the 
Fig. 2. blow should be repeated to make destruc- 
. tion sure. Then, drawing back the head, 
cut across the throat at its upper portion 
down to the bone, so as to open freely 
all the blood-vessels. 
2. By the Bullet.—The operator should 
stand directly in front of the animal, and 
place the muzzle of the rifle or pistol within 
a few inches of the skull, aiming at the 
spot indicated in Fig. 2. 
If the pistol is used, one hand may 
steady the head by grasping the nose- 
band of the halter, or by taking hold of 
the forelock. If the rifle is employed, it is better to blindfold the 
horse or to secure him by the halter. One shot is generally suffi- 
cient, if properly directed in either case ; if not, it should be repeated 
after the animal falls. 
