Abstract: A pillow for a headrest having a pair of opposing lateral head supports pads each having inner opposing and top surfaces for supporting the head. Alternatively, the pillow may be used for supporting and immobilizing the cervical spine of a person in a supine position. The pillow preferably includes three layers of plastic film sealed together about their periphery forming a closed upper chamber and a closed lower chamber. Two baffles preferably extend the width of the lower chamber thereby forming longitudinally oriented outer, intermediate and inner lower subchambers. All chambers and subchambers are appropriately filled with a viscous gel.

Abstract: The jugular veins of chickens and other poultry are rapidly cut with precision and uniformity as birds are conveyed in succession past a rotary cutting knife. The necks of the birds are stretched at the cutting station by the coordinated action of upper camming bars acting on the bodies of the birds and lower spaced guide bars between which the necks travel longitudinally with the heads of the birds constrained below the guide bars and sliding on a spring-loaded pivoted pan structure which assures stabilization of the heads at the moment of cutting the jugular vein regardless of variations in head size and weight. The heads are presented to the knife with better vertical orientation to insure better engagement of the knife with the jugular vein. The necks are propelled through the cutting station by pusher elements attached in spaced relationship to an endless conveyor element immediately above the constraining parallel guide bars.