THE HUMANE KILLER
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In his article, "The Model Abattoir Society," in your issue of the 26th ult., H. A. B. stresses the substitution of the humane killer for the pole-axe—a very necessary and urgent reform. But the pole-axe is only for cattle. Surely the case of the sheep, pigs and calves is much more urgent, for they have to endure the knife without even the rude anaes- thetic of the pole-axe, which in skilful hands may be a merciful instrument, though not in the hands of boys and learners.
Let the M.A.S. press on the reform that every animal must first be stunned before being bled.
This following point may be a contentious one, but I cannot see why even the Jews, a humane people, object to the humane killer, for an animal so struck is not physiologically dead, its heart still beats, and so it can be bled—the object, I take it, of the Mosaic Instruction.—! am, Sir, &c.,
HOWARD G. PESEL, M.C., M.D.
43 London Road, Maidstone.
[We cordially agree with our correspondent. We think that every lover of animals should demand the use of the humane-killer for sheep, pigs and calves as well as for cattle. In this connexion we should like to call attention to the Report of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 1926, which lays strong emphasis on these points.—ED. Spectator.]
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