The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-11-26
From the Scientific Americana
The Sensation of Pain in the Lower An
imalS.

Does the insect, which we thoughtless-
ly crush under foot, suffer as much pain
as we should were we similarly destroy
ed? It is generally conceded that the
proper answer to the question is in the
negative; and in fact it would seem
much more in accordance with the wis
dom, displayed throughout the creation
of animated nature, that those beings
which from their very essentials are sub
ject to wholesale destruction, should be
spared the pangs incident to the throes
of dissolution. No one, except perhaps
the most refined of humanitarians who
had scruples about drinking water on &C
count of the sufferings he might cause
to the animalcule therein, supposes that
any real sensation of agony is expert
enced by the zo-ophyte which we tear
from the rock, or by the oyster as we cut
it from its she'll; but there are many who
contemplate the sport of the angler with
horror, and who see, in the writings of
the worm on the hook or in the strug
giles of his finny victim, all the tortures
of human mutilation. Where then, at
what particular class of being, is the di-
viding line to be drawn? Are only ra-
dates and mollusks apathetic to dismem-
berment, or do they also experience SEN
sation, and how far in the ascending
tend in its decreasing ratio?
1t seems to u.s. and we have no doubt
biological fact will bear US out in the
view, that the accidental influences of
cultivation of breed, OF education IN hu-
man beings, and also of differences in
delicacy of nervous organization, play an
important part in determining the de-
gree of suffering. 1t is we'll known
that savage will bear pain, not merely
in absolute stoicism but apparently un-
mindfully, which if inflicted on a refined
and cultivated individual would produce
death or syncope. And this is not mere
ly confined to the barbarian, but extends
through all grades of society. Physi-
clans state that the sufferings of child
birth are as nothing to the squaw, or to
the woman who constantly performs
coarse manual labor, when compared to
those of the delicate females of our up
per class. The same general rule applles
to the lower animals; the finely bred
horse winces under the lash that the
dray brute would not notice, and the
trained hound will yelp at the blow of
which a street cur would think nothing.
With this distinction of varieties OF spe-
ces before US on one hand, and the fact
that both reason and general belief point
| to the insensibility of lower animals on
Grafton of an interesting argument, rails
ed by DR., Crosby of the city, in defence
of the practice of vivisection 1t is adj
vanced, as generally received PROPOSE
ton, that the sense Of pain is designed
for the self preservation of all animals,
and further that each is endowed with
this sense to an extent only sufficient TO
ensure the result. That is, in other
words, That an insect, Tor example, has a
sufficient sense OF suffering to keep HIM
from walking on hos coal; but II we
throw him INTO the fire, his agony would
be comparatively nothing as compared
to that OF some higher animal in whom
the sense of pain is implanted for a
greater and more complicated variety OF
purposes,
Ii is very difficult, almost impossible
to Judge of the existence of pain in an
animal by its mere physical contortfon
A human being under the influence Of
ether, during an operation, often writhes
and screams as if in great torture, and
yet nothing is felt; similarly people II
convulsions show every external sign o
suffering, and yet, beyond mere muscular
soreness due to exertion, none is present
Nor is the cry proof of pain, for, as DR.
CrosbXsays, a pig will yell just as Justify