verb
pith
To destroy an animal's brain or spinal cord.
Researchers pith the frog to destroy its brain or spinal cord.
Etymology
Pith names the soft central substance of a stem. The destructive procedure extends that central-core image to the brain and spinal cord of an animal.
More examples
- The report states that the animal was pithed.
- Students learn what pithing means before observing the procedure.
- Only trained personnel may pith animals in this laboratory.
Forms
pith · piths · pithed · pithing