New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-28
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGT
DIR. DALTON on BERGH AND vIvIsECTIoN.
ths Edffor OF Tia Tribune

DR. DALTON on BERGH AND vIvIsECTIoN.
To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR AS a communication has appeared on
this subject from Mr. Bergh in THE TRIBUNE OF satur-
day calculated to convey false impression to the
nature and value OF experimental physiology with your
permission will trespass the patience Of your read
ers with o few observations the only important
| points Of the article in question
An array Of quotations Is given. mostly without ref
connection for the purpose Of showing that
experiments animals without necessity or value
for Improvement discovery in medicine Their value
however, is easily illustrated II reader OF THE
TRIBUNE or any member of his family, should happen
to be saved from death by drowning by means OF arth
ca respiration from death by loss blood by means OF
TRANSMISSION from loss Of shattered limb by resecton
OF the bones with OF their brous covering
he would be Indebted for the knowledge which makes
these results possible entirely to the experimenters
As for the estimate which their labors held by
the profession 10 Is enough to what notorious TO
any conversant with medical literature. that no
book physiology is published at the present day
which is not filed with the results obtained by the
method Of experimentation; II such book were to
be published it would be throwing away ones time to
read It, since would necessarily be barren OF the facts
which make up our knowledge In this department.
In the article alluded there also terrific descrp
tons Of tho experiments Of physiological laboratory
which practically repetions of what has appeared
DO well calculated to harrow the feelings and shake the
nerves Of the reader But statement made for the In
formation Of the public ought not to go beyond the
bounds Of reality, to whatever subject 1t may refer AS
special instance, would recall the description or
dog with experimental gastric stua which IS to be
found at the close Of communication In an evening
paper Of Sept L. The quotation is as follows:
In the same spoken OF, another experiment was
going painful and lentny description. This con-
sists in the administration OF food the animal by
artificial
In ths dog had been cut open ana the stomach
pulled up the coating of the abdomen; small hole
had been made in stomach. double button put
in to maintain 1t In position. After period Of week
attached the of the abdomen. the dog all the
timo suffering terrible pain. After TINS was done, food
of digestion carefully watched. Tue dog was in the last
stage OF existence and could only i've IN TINS anner
few days longer Of course dying In the most oaDarous
and t0rturesome manner.
Let me give short description Of this experiment as
1t really Is In order that 1t may be seen how far the
foregoing description corresponds with the truth In
making an artificial gastric hstula upon the dog, the
preliminary operation Of opening the coats OF the
stomach and inserting the silver tubs is performed
under the influence Of ether aud Of course absolutely
painless, much so as any surgical operation per-
formed with aneshetics upon the human subject The
divided surfaces then unite, not by Inflammation, but
by the natural process Of adheson and the tube then
lies In its hstulous passage without producing any
uneasiness or suffering. Animals may live wearing
such tube for indefinite time, and dogs In this con-
diton have even used for hunting. SO little does
interfere with their natural comfort activity The
experiment with artificial gastric fstua Is therefore
from first last entirely unaccompanied by pain to the
animal-a fact which is SD palpabe that the slightest
examination would make it evident to any one of ordi'
nary intelligence; and yet it is represented as an
atrocity deserving OF censure and restraint.
The discoveries which have been and are being made
in physiology and pathology at least as important
for the welfare of mankind those in chemistry and
physics. The system OF repression advocated by Mr..
Bergh would all progress in this direction, and
bring physiological science to standstil 1t is to be
hoped that this movement OF return to ignorance Will
not be inaugurated in the United States.
Ee1 York. Sept. 2s, 1874. j. C. DALTON Nj. ID