Disembowelment, evisceration or gutting is the removal of some or all of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (bowels or viscera), usually through a incision made across the abdominal area. Evisceration is a routine operation during the animal slaughter. In the ancient Rome, disembowelment of animals was practised for divination and was known as haruspicy. Disembowelment of humans may result from an accident but has also been used as a method of torture, execution or suicide. In such practices, disembowelment may be accompanied by other forms of torture, or the removal of other vital organs.