Punch,  48 (1865), 143.

Veterinary Poor-Law

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Cruelty, Animal Husbandry, Animal Behaviour, Crime


    Discusses the conviction and punishment (in a house of correction) of John Birley, a farmer charged by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with having 'tortured four cows and a calf'. Reveals that the farmer had deprived the cattle of food and criticises the fact that had he allowed them to die he would have 'received the fullest allowance of correction' that could have been 'legally awarded him'. Ridicules 'British benevolence' for merely subjecting the farmer to the punishment of a thief and accordingly wonders what would have happened had Birley been a poor law guardian who allowed paupers to die from starvation. Points out that 'There is no County crop or treadmill, or oakum-picking, or crank for "Cruelty to Paupers"'.



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