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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 3, 4 January 1868, Page 2

Some interesting experiments have been made lately at the "slaughter-houses of Vincennes as to the most merciful manner of killing animals with the least possible suffering. At present oxen are slaughtered by blows from heavy hammers on the head, which necessarily inflicts the most frightful torture on the unfortunate victims of our carnivorous propensities. The idea occurred to an eminent physiologist that the section of the spine wduld produce more instant death. This, however, has not been demonstrated. An ox thus killed lived for 12 minutes, and endured during that time the most horrible sufferings. Decapitation was then tried with the following curious result — ' A calf was hung up and decapitated in the space of a minute. Its head was then placed en a table. In six minutes two ounce* of blocd was lost. During the first minute the face. was frightfully convulsed, the mouth opened and shut as though the animal were eatiug ; and strange to say, on putting the hand against the mouth and nostril, it was easy to feel the respiration continuing. Thirty animals were thus kilted, and the result of the observations taken was that the committee decided that the old practice of killing : by means of blows from a hammer should be , continued.— Star.