It rather goes without saying that a common usage cannot be "erroneous", because dictionaries are not prescriptive but descriptive; in other words, they collect usages, but do not judge them. "Vivisection" is very widely used for a broader type of experiment than just cutting, whatever it means "etymologically". I think one quickly finds oneself on soft sand whenever one appeals to what words used to mean rather than what they actually are taken to mean today. I think though that suggesting that an Italian professor is a good source for usage, when he wrote in Italian not English and was translated by someone else is, erm, let's just say a bit cute and move on.  Grace Note