THE HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of August 8th Mr. Henderson claims to be an authority on the above subject, having had over twenty years' experience as meat inspector in a large municipal abattoir in Scotland. His experience was that latterly once or twice a year English inspectors (" employed by the R.S.P.C.A.") invaded the unnamed Scottish abattoir and demonstrated the inefficiency of the humane killer, for one shot in six failed to kill, and the tedious pistol had then to be recharged for a further effort. Would it not be more expeditious and humane, he asks, to use the pole-axe, with which a second blow can be delivered instantly when the first has failed ?
May I supplement his statistics by quoting from a Report to the Corporation of London (Public Health Department, Sanitary Committee, April, 1925) on this very question ? The inquiry was exhaustive, and the Report states that, with a humane killer, 1,255 animals were killed with 1,259 shots ; whilst with the pole-axe the ratio of blows was : 100 bulls, 250 blows ; 100 oxen, 123 blows ; 100 cows, 127 blows ; 100 pigs, 155 blows. Further argument on that point is un- necessary.
In his later remarks your correspondent is equally at sea. He writes of a " humane killer which fires a captive ball " One is relieved to have his assurance that so unusual and dan- gerous a weapon has " dropped into disuse." If he means the humane killer which fires a captive bolt, he will be glad to learn that this instrument is being used in many places with satisfactory results, though it gets out of order more readily than the free bullet pistol. As to the •" very real danger to the men " from the free bullet, your correspondent need have little anxiety. The free bullet has been in use for a score of years with practical inummity. Is it not strange, Sir, that men accustomed to see death in many forms should be alarmed if one mentions the shooting of a captive bullock with a specially contrived pistol ; or, again, that any human being should grudge a five-pound note if thereby death is rendered painless for tens of thousands of the lower animals ? I have seen animals miscellaneously slaughtered in abattoirs in more than one country ; and the first time I saw the humane killer used I felt that the only fit words were : " 0 death, where is thy sting ? " Hence this letter.
May I add that addresses for the purchase of humanely killed meat (including bacon) may be obtained from the respective P.C.A. Societies in London, Edinburgh and Belfast ?
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