KILLING BY ELECTRICITY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3133, 18 April 1883, Page 3

KILLING BY ELECTRICITY.

An interesting project for a simpler and more humane method of_ despatching. animals, or even criminals, by electricity, is suggested by the “Zoophilist,” An ordinary stall has an iron plate fastened upon its floor large enough for a bullock to stand upon. With this plate is connected the negative polo of an electric condenser, formed of alternate layers of tinfoil and tissue paper soaked in paraffin. This condenser is charged with an ordinary coil to its fullest capacity, and is to be discharged at an electro-motive force, which produces a lin. spark. The animal to be dispatched has the top of its head, and also its feet and lega wetted with salt water. It is then led into fhe stall with its hoofs resting on the iron plate. The brass knob, which makes the positive pole, and has an insulating handle, is then applied to the forehead of the animal, which falls down stone dead the moment the contact is effected. This plan, or one very similar to it, has already been adopted in an abbatoir at Home, and there can be little doubt that the speed and ease with which the operation is effected, to say nothing of the humanity, will ensure the speedy adoption of the electric system on a general scale. We have not heard that any one has yet succeeded in inducing the authorities to experiment with criminals.