NEW SYSTEM OF SLAUGHTERING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2639, 6 October 1877, Page 3

NEW SYSTEM OF SLAUGHTERING.

An interesting experiment has been made at a horse-slaughtering 1 establishment at Dudley, with the view of testing- a new system of slaughtering cattle by means of dynamite, and thus putting them out of existence more speedily and with less suffering than by tho ordinary poll-axe. Two large powerful horses and a donkey (disabled for work) were ranged in a line about ha'f a yard apart under a shed, the donkey being placed in tbe centre. A small primer of dynamite, with an electric fuse attached, was then placed on each of their foreheads and fastened in position by a piece of string under the jaw. The wires were then conpled up in circuit and attached to tho.electric machine, which stood about five yards in front. The handle of tbe machine being then trirned, an electric current was discharged, which exploded the three charges simultaneously, and the animals fell dead without a struggle. The whole affair was over in two minutes, and the experiment appears to have been a perfect sncces9. It was conducted by Mr. Johnson, agent for Mr. Nobel's explosives, assisted by Mr. Harris, one of the dynamite instructors. By this means, it is stated, any number — even 100 or more cattle may be instantly killed by the same current of electricity. There cannot be a doubt that the present system of slaughtering cattle is open to the charge of being cruel and barbarous, and the slightest want of skill on the part of tho slaughterer often subjects the unhappy beasts to horrible torture. Any attempt to extinguish life painlessly is a step in the right direction, not only as regards cattle, but also as regards criminals sentenced to capital punishment, whose case equally deserves consideration.