New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-02
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

THE TURTLE oAsE-LRTrER PROM PROP. AGAssz.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AMI
mails desrocS Of educating the people Of this city the sub
Jet Of the proper treatment for animals directed Pcseat
Bergh invite Prof Agass to deliver lecture before the So
cey on The Turtle which the lowest type OF animal
which the Society vet directed attention Prof Agsss
is n able to respond to the request but has written letter
which VIII be read with interest.
PRoF Lors AeAssIz-Jtg Dsar Sir. society hes been
recently formed IN tins STATE Tor the Prevention o. CIy 70
mot aaterng auspices encouraged b the almost unanimous
approval of press and the public Already during is bref
existence effected number Of reforms and n TIE wide
and varied field inviting humane labOrs il hopes
scnd you herewith article giving quite mn socouat
do Ny special object however IN writing To ask you on
behalf Of the society to lecture btoeh al soine TINE during
the coming Fall on the Turtle with particular reference 20 s
power of sensation.
Believing that turtle low in thaSeale Of animated
creation H. nevertheless beneath the attention Of society
which Processes for its object the suppression q cruelty 10
ypss lsden with Turtles from the Florida crest c innch
TGe turtles were lying on their backs kept without food
water and having holes bored through Their ms OF legs VITA
cords through 10 them On the trial OF The esse
Dr. Guernsey testified that the turtle experienced no suffering
from the OF food that il cruel 10 place on rs
belly than IL back for would live longer ia ne latter posi-
pain than the bite OF mosquito human beug
The Justice regarding this the testimony Of an expert dis
bill against the captain and the subject VIII again come upon
the trial OF the Indictment
10 whether the turtle animal so endowed with esa-
ton that can oc The subject OF cruelty and some cosGr
In refining the huancS fr down IA the scale Of being
By OF respectable weekes seriously stated
that little turtle experience pain that il will quietly
submit the mast extensive mutilaOns with feelings moro
aim 10 pleasure Than suffering
view OF this difference opinion and Of the sci THAI
thereof Is still the practice OF dealers IN
turtles keep them without food lying on their
backs their pierced with cords them this So
cty Is very DESTROYS OF having an exposition Of your views on
the subject above mentioned assured Is that no other per-
speak with equal authority thereon
From your distinguished reputation scientific nata
raist non the tne and you are known 10 have devoted
the study Of the Jesnaa and from the frequent eAamins
ou You have made Of their structure your views viii be eon
very much hops therefore that viii accord with your
convenience the society with lecture Ibis subect
not that you will be SO Kind as 10 communicate your views
In writing. ..,..,. -. - - 49,. r. ,.. ,,.,,.
successful and interesting trip TO the Amazon, have the
honor TO be- sur your most ooedien servant ~.
"N1HASr, sept %. 1866
operate with your society Tor sympa<e heartily with the OBJ
but my life is absorbed with other duties and with the
best viii cannot do more than what have already engaged
Excuse me- therefore if answer but briefly your special
questions To meet you in NewYork and oxpound publey
my views upon such subject is out OF the question
need not tell you that men have always enough TO
today with the turtle market And though blck arc
likely be projected hereafter their former suherings
during long voyages record agd humanity hudders
az the tale Whether men may ever be refined enough 10 feel
their guilt when they torment animals remains TO be- and
your society vl doubt do its share IN educating them in that
direction Bu ny that turtles DO GOT suffer Whcn'daggcd
hoT natural huns tied that they may not be able
move Turned upside down. &c, &C. is s.npp ABSURD It il
taat they can live for long ime without food or drinks
but they 90 feel pain. aud indeed Tery sensitive
TO some injuries That OF turning ,Aem upside down
among Others is sufficient, for instance 10 pre-
their eggs nom Matching. Their suffering may be infer
nd b. HE violent and conusivc 10 which the per-
onton Of their fins gives rise And yet 70 this proceeding
dealers In turtles generally resort In order 10 tie them
closely and puck larger number In smaller space % course,
when tied IN this manner, they may suffer- less by being
TUNED upon their backs because the Tins thus relieved fo
tina pressure OF their whole weight but The best evidence can
afford that they He In that position Is that they die II ~
mnel proacted and yet turtles the animals which
fsi longest pyat all kinds Is the fact that they
merely the attitude in which they forcby
kept the evidence their Suffering For what
else would death II not pain and the unnatural pressure
OF PARTS brought into unaccustoDed positions
Having gone let call your attention 10 tho
dangers arising from leatment OF beef cattle before
saughtorng the While IN Brazil learned That the City OF
suffered from the quality OF the beef sold in the public
market deteoted because the and killed IN tho
city were brought in from considerable distance and were
kept many days without food The matter grew bad
that company formed 10 bring by steam bcc killed upon
tue farms ap every body felt the difference in the condition OF
The meat and its nnre qualities Very respectfully yours
Henry Rergh ESQ. l. AGAssA