[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] - SIR,—People, who are
so humane regarding the slaughter of animals, . make the mistake of endowing them with -human
sensitiveness. When a human being suffers a severe wound he does not suffer immediate physical pain. The horror is caused by the visualization of death or disablement.- I do not believe that an animal has this power of imagination. It has been argued that bullocks and pigs taken to slaughter show
evidence of terror. Anyone who has had to deal with animals knows that a bullock may show just as much terror
when driven into an unfamiliar shed, and a pig will squeal "blue murder" if it is lifted into a cart. Real kindness to animals is in the avoidance of starving or maltreating them. As regards blood-sports—a - perusal of the reports of fox- hunting published in The Times showed that out of some twenty meets there were • on one day two kills only. Nine
chances to one for the fox !—I am, Sir, &c.,
REGD. E. G. WOODMAN.
45 Thrak Road, Streatham, S.W. 16.
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