Cohn, Jacob. The Royal Table - VWC: Faculty/Staff Web

34 THE ROYAL TABLE
possible. The object sought in a humane method of killing
animals is effecting loss of consciousness in the shortest pos-
sible time, and by as painless a method as feasible.
Shechitah admirably attains both these objects. In poleaxing
the animal suffers intense agony from the concussion
of the brain. Moreover, the stunning effect is not always
obtained with a single blow; often two or three blows are
needed to fell a tjiick-skulled ox. In the interim the
animal suffers indescribable agonies. The method used in
England and other parts of Europe, of piercing Jhelbacj
ofjhe head and stirringLUp the medulla" with a pole, is too
"horrible^ a^process for words,. The mere piercing of the
jugular vein, and allowing the animal to bleed to death
a method much in vogue for sheep and very young cattle
in this country is an amazingly slow process. It often
takes several minutes before the last signs of consciousness
are gone. | But the Jewish method is certain and swift.
The law requires that both the trachea and oesophagus of
the animal be severed. In order to effect such a cut, the
jugular vein, the dirotid arteries, the jDneumpgasliic and
the ^o&athetic nerves must be cut. The severance of
the jugular vein and the carotid arteries drains the brain
very quickly of blood, and allows no new blood to reach
it. A bloodless brain cannot be conscious. Furthermore,
the severance of the pneumogastric
nerves cuts off the
major bodily centers of pain in the body. The nervous
connection with the pneumo-cardiac system being dam-
aged, the heart is in no position to pump much blood to
the brain through the small vertebral arteries which still
remain uncut. And even when the pressure is sufficient
to send blood through them towards the brain, most of
the blood leaks out through the severed carotids, with
which the vertebral arteries are in communication by means