The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14

relate all the dsagreesble details of few neces
sarily revolving experiments-inasmuch as ether OF
chloroform unknown rs anasthetics ut thu
time NJ agendie. Sir Charles Bell and others made
their experiments upon animas-he did not tell his
readers the results to the benefit OF mankind reapsd
from vivisectons. Upon this subject will On
deavor to add details to those already brought
| to your readers notice.
Among other results vivisectiou has advanced our
knowledge of physiology
/. By demonstrating the existence of two sets of
in the bodyone set for motion the other for
sensation. Discovered by Sir Charles Bell.
=. BY demonstrating the function OF the anterior
columns of the spinal cord to be motory OF the
pos,erior columns to be sensory. Discovered by
that .nost abandoned criminal that ever lived, as
Mr. Bergh politely % calls the eminent Magendie. in
1922.
anterior and posteror columns OF the spinal cord
their influence through the cercbro-spinal vase
motor aud sympathetic systems of nerves upon alb
sorption, upon the various sccreions accomplished
by the stomach. intestines. liver Ncl, upon the va
rious excretions from liver. bowels. kidneys. skin
&c.) upon the heart and lungs calorihcation. general
nutrition. &c made by NM. Claude Bernard. Brown
Sequard. Schin. Rouget. Longet. Vuipian, Goltz,
Phhger MILLER and i host OF Others.
4. by the discovery OF the functions or the
medua obongata especially its control over respra-
ton, BY NJ. Flourens and others.
D. By the discovery OF the functions or the
cerebellum. especially its influence the co-or
dlnation OF muscular movements. by MN Flourens,
Longet and others.
g. by the discovery that the collections of gray
matter within the encephalic isthmus and within
the substance of the brain tcerebrum are connected
with sensation and motion, by NM. Magendie,
Flourens and Others
I. BY the demonstration that in the convolu-
tons Of the brain cerebrum) reside the functions of
voltion. thought. general intelligence and instinct.
by NM. Flourens. Magendie. Longet and others
by tho pretty firmly established discovery OF the
special notor function of tho gray matter of certain
cerebral cohvolutons. by NM. Fritsch and Hitzig.
Terrier. Durct and Carvle. Northnagel and others.
9. BY the discovery Of reflex action OF the spinal
cord by Marshall Hall.
TO- BY the discovery Of the functions OF the
Bracelet. Reid Claude Bsrnard vuipian and others.
ii. By the discoveries of Volta. Matteucci. du
Bos-Reymond and others. in tho electro physiology
OF the nervous system, &c.
- BY the discovery the functions of the various
special nerves facial. pneunogastric. &c). by
Charles Bell. John Reid and others.
mechanism OF the circulation of the blood. by Will
lam Harvey. after he had discovered it by reason
ing alone"
IA. By the discovery of numerous and important
facts in the physiology of digestion. by Blondlot.
Schwann Claude Bernard and others.
l5 BY the discovery Of the functions OF the chylif
vessels. by NH. Colin. Claude Bernard and
others.
But this list need not DO extended This enumer-
alton plainly demonstrates that to vlvisection
we owe nearly all our knowledge Of physiology.
Without it's aid should still be in darkness to
the liver. the intestines. &c.
What aid have vivisection researches rendered
mankind?
They have led to the TRANSMISSION of blood as .
remedial measure. to tho application of artificial
respiration to the saving Of human fe to the Of
the ligature for the Of aneurisms John Hunter
to new data upon and different treatment OF inflam-
nation; to new discoveries in pathology, which
for more rational aud successful treatment Of
diseases to operations upon diseased bone since
have asccrained that the perosteum can and does
regenerate bone, and knowledge of the action
OF medicines upon the different portions OF the sys-
tenn whsrson MS is based rational apPcsation OF
and more has vivisection done for the advancement
of physiology. pathology and therapeutics, for the
1t is too late in the day to declare that because
Harvey reasoned out the circulation there was no
need for proving his theory Too late to attempt to
rob Harvey OF the credits which is Justly due him for
being the first to demonstrate the true circulation OF
the blood. by citing the poetical fances Of Shake
speare. referring to the partial knowledge of
Servetus and Galen. to the aftercaps Of Mslpigh
and LANCE. Poor Jenner had to suffer bitterly from
his detractors to say nothing OF Columbus and tho
egg:
geons III. Nelaton and Sir William Fer
gusson for their views as to the relative value Of
vivisections. AS for Sir Charles Bell have already
mentioned OF his discoveries; indeed he and his
couutrymen claim that 1t was he and not Magende,
who first discovered the motory and sensory
functions Of the anterior and posteror spinal
columns by experiments upon living animals. With
out taking pains to interrogate Baron Won Weber.
II Mr. Bergh would look into the works Of NJ. Claude
Bernard. OF NJ. Schiff, of NJ. vupian, he would find
In relation to the nervous system. curarization or
an@stheization has been and is put into practice.
Why did NJ Magendie nail "a sensitive little spaniel
by Its paws and its long. silky ears to the table,
aud separate the nerves OF the eyes. saw the skull
lay open the spinal canal. &C.? 10 demonstrate the
functions OF the spinal cord, &C., before alluded
to- But to what purpose? Our knowledge OF the
nerves. spinal cord &C. ana OF their treatment
Nor does Mr.. Bergh tell both sides of the story
when he has the courage to speak disrespect-
fully. to say the least. of man M Claude Bernsrdl
whose conscientious researches and their beneficial
results 10 the human race have earned for him a
name which shall when his detractors shall have
been buried in oblivion.
Now. NJ. Bernard did not simply '.bake" those
seventeen dogs and twenty-five rabbit, abb, alive U,
certain data in reference to the central body tenn
pcratures. the condition Of the heart and blood
sells under high temperatures and the anods operamd
of death from overpowering heat.
And thus might Mr.. Bergh have made little (!) ad
and have wholly changed the aspect OF things. But
hobbies are hobbies aud Mr. Bergh possesses his.
While admit that the vivisectons performed
annually in medical colleges before students not
at all necessary and could be done away with; al
though this mode of killing animals-since they
invariably put under the influence OF ether and
either bied or curarized to death-is as humane
rs drowning seventy-fve to ninety per diem.
as is done by the poundmasters during certain
mittei that some unnecessary vivisectionf
have boon performed it would seem that the
showing above demonstrates that 1t would be
sad day for science. a stunning blow to progress in
physiology. pathology, therapeutics and hygiene
were vivscction, especially III the hands OF compe
tent and earnest Investigators. to become n penal
offence. When bigotry and mawkish scntimentalsm
again rule the day It would be just that scientific
physicians should resign the practice Of medicine
and surgery to empirical charlatans.
am no friend to unnecessary vivisecton or cruel
tos there Is necessity Tor such atrocities those
performed at Abort. France. I suspect however
those operations carried during an@sthetiza
ton OF the animals but when experiments upon All
finals conduce to mans welfare do not hesitat,
to declare for the survival of the fttest"
FRANK d. BEANIE. A. NJ. M. d.
WALKING WHILE ASLEEP.