Erik sez, "Several years ago, my wife gave me an 1888 encyclopedia, which I've always enjoyed browsing through for obscure information, nifty line engravings, and anachronistic laughs. Recently, I started scanning articles and posting them for others to enjoy."
ANIMALS, CRUELTY TO (in LAW). This is an offence against criminal law, and has frequently formed the subject of legislation, the chief act of parliament being the 12 and 13 Vict. c. 92 (passed in 1849). By this statute it is provided, that if any person shall cruelly beat, ill-treat, over-drive, abuse, or torture any horse, mare, gelding, bull, ox, cow, heifer, steer, calf, mule, ass, sheep, lamb, hog, pig, sow, goat, dog, cat, or any other domestic animal, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding £5 for every such offence, recoverable before a justice of the peace in a summary way; and if by any such misconduct he shall injure the animal, or person or property, a further sum not exceeding £10 to the owner or person injured. The acts also inflict penalties in thecase of conveying cattle by railway without water-supply, &c., causing unnecessary pain or suffering; in the case of bull-baiting, cock-fighting, and the like; and regulates the business of slaughtering horses and cattle not intended for butcher-meat.
The act of 1839 forbids the use of carts, drawn by dogs. The 39 and 40 Vict. c. 77 (1876) limits vivisection, and forbids painful experiments on animals, unless the operator is licensed by the Home Secretary. The object must be the discovery of knowledge or the prolonging of life; and the animal must be rendered insensible during the operation. The penalty is £50 for the first offence, £100 for the second. The Wild-Birds Protection Act (1880) provides a close time for birds between March and August.
Formerly, in Scotland, this offence was punishable at common law—that is, according to the Scottish legal principle, common law as distinguished from statute law. An act of parliament, however, passed in the year 1850, put the law on this subject in Scotland on the same footing as it is in England. See ANIMALS, Cruelty to, in AM. SUPP.
(Thanks, Erik!)
