The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14
THE HORRORS OF ylVIsECTlON.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE /
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. J

HraDoUAnrEns THE SOCIETY FOR rHEl
PREVENTION CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
To TIE EprroR THE HkRALp:-
In YOUR editorial OF the I'd inst. you mildly re-
buke me for the employment of certain terms in ref
erence to Magendie When alluded TO the courte-
sizes of discussion desired to be understood as
ferrug to contemporaneous argument. not to discus
sions with men who have long ago ceased to live.
All historians and biographers who have swayed the
destines opinions of men and nations character
ze the by terms and epithets suited to the
celence depravity of their deeds Magendie is
dead and has left the longest record of heartes and
unnecessary cruelties upon innocent dumb animals.
according the verdict of the ablest minds which
have succeeded him. that ever shocked the human
sensblities. In speaking of him as did but
echoed the judgment and language of his peers in
science and his appellate judges of the bar of human
justice.
DR.. prummond in speaking of Magendie. says: =
"rhis most ruthless and truculent OF vvsectors in
one of his barbarous experiments began by cutting
large piece from the back of beautiful little
puppy he would from an apple dunpling." And
again :-"He cuts living animals here and there to
what viii happen, and the distressing shrieks
and agonzing tortures of the poor victims are heard
by him with stocal apathy Further on he is
called the most cold blooded and cruel OF physolo
gists.
DIR. Elliotson's testimony is to similar effect.
The learned DIR. Benjamin Johnson says Among
the inferior professors Of medical knowledge is u
race of wretches whose lives only varied
by varieties of cruelty" The celebrated Aberncthy
speaking OF some of Spallanzani's experiments,
called him "flthy minded fellow"
.Magendie's experiments. says Fleming, "are
nearly all replete with the most dastardly symptoms
OF cruelty.
Among the human monsters of DID, such as Tar
uuin, Nero, Caliguia and their modern imitators,
history does not pause to choose courteous and half
apologetic denunciations, but employs words and
names which best represent their inhuman savage
ries, Permit me to you that al my instincts
and associations the side of that courtesy to
which you refer. have yet to learn that for the
creature in human form who performed the follow
ing experiment there any word or phrase known
to the English language adequate to the expression
of the deep abhorrence which swells the indignant
hearts of all men and women not born savages:-
II was the case OF poor dog, whose spinal nerves
he experimenting upon. In vain the Implying
savant-thats the academical terin-endeavored to
lay bare the roots OF the vertebral scalpe
chsel hammer and bone forceps piled dill
gently. usual. for the ediffcaton of the students
Twice the poor creature escaped from its punish
ment, and at last when brought back, and when it's
struggles awaited not to save it from tho lacerating
knife it then threw its paws around the cruel mans
neck and actually licked his face would ask. il 1
were not afraid of offending some one. which Of
these two creatures the brute?
Dir. Mott may regard this kind OF argument which
use sensational; SO it is, but then it is true.
Now. this same Magendie. shortly before his DEATH
with vivsectors, frankly admitting "that no med-
cal man would consult u surgeon or physician who
and which would be sure to mislead." Elem
ngs Prize Essay, page o. After INJECTING years Of
torments. from the contemplation of which the hui
mind shrinks with horror. this Same Magendie
declares that vivisection is failure!
Before resuming the discussion OF the subject to
which You have so kindly opened your columns.
would pause moment to remind my learned an
tagonist DR.. Mott, OF the scientific disparity which
exists between u.s., He. I presume, Is trained
mems wisdom. Some ADLER hand than my own
should long ago have undertaken this argument in
tho necessity OF putting the subject before the
public IN the most logical form my humble abilities
will allow. but represent the humanites involved
III it. Having cited IN my previous communication
the great authorities did upon the point raised con-
ccruing the discovery of the circulation OF the blood
do not deem it necessary to occupy your valuable
space by further allusion to 1t. 1t is, however,
worthy of note that Dr. Mott while insisting on the
claims OF Harvey. admits the previous discovery by
Servetus and others, which Is all vcntured to
assert.
To the following propositions of the Doctor beg
to enter my unscientfc but humane protest.
namely :"Let us sacrifice not nine dogs" he says.
OF ten, but ninety nine out Of q hundred to the
cover one secret which viii BE- benefit to man.
kind" 1t is opposed to the teachings Of religion
and of our conception Of the great Author OF all
things to suppose that He created tho lower animal
world to be subjected to tho ingenious torturcs OF
man; fortunes dreul, prolonged and indescribable.
10 think is to consider him Being such the
reverental mind of forboars to characterize In
the name Of humanity and religion 1 declare that
we have no right to knowledge thus acquired,
namely, TRANSMISSION OF blood. respiration and the
action of poisons upon the vital economy. shall
briefly. but hope successfully, reply to- suppose
that IL it be possible to unite the bodies Of two
animals of different species, and even genera. one
lied. But appeal to the common sense of mankind
to say of what earthly use can 1t be when demon
strated? The following experiment may aid In
establishing its astounding benohts:-
surgeon named Waindo i'll tho year 1860. writing
to English journalist. says:-"Observing the
rapidity with which wounds heal resolved in my
mind the possibility OF uniting the raw surfaces
OF living animals Having had rot some time III my
possession. which waa very tame. determined on
making the trial. the other animal being full grown
crow. After owing the skin from the back Of
the rat with scalpol sliced of about two inches
of the subcutaneous tissue, so that the mouths Of
the minute blood vessels might be opened. then
took of the feathers from the breast of the bird and
performed the same Operation. After sponging the
legs the back of the rat. and with bandages
kept them that they could retreat the ncised
surfaces. fed them regularly though the hrst day
the crow ate nothing. At the end of sixteen days
removed the bandages, and was delighted The
surfaces were united and the skin beginning unite.
They present q peculiar appearance, and do not
seem disposed to part company The crow does
not possess sufficient power OF wing to fly
away with it's companion, only to hutter 1t along at
the height of couple OF feet from the ground.
Should anybody be sceptical as to this fact, says
the learned gentleman, shall have great pleasure
in satisfying visitors by calling on me-" To my
unappreciative understanding. II seems pity that
his first visitor had not been u policeman. armed
with sufficient power to " transtuse the operator
into q cell of the nearest prison.
In little book on suspended Animation
learn that committee of vivsectors. long since.
made upward of seventy experiments living dogs
thus:-In:isons made in the trachea, into which
tubes inserted and filled with corks, to cut OF
the supply of air In order to ascertain the duration
of the death struggles. Others had their heads
held under water. plunged into mercury. stuck
into liquid plaster of Paris. CHI bonoy Why. let the
Report OF the Commission tell. "That u dog may
be deprived OF air three minutes and fifty seconds
and that dog is not likely TO after
four minutes aud ten seconds and that IL you
deprive dog Of air for certain period. It will
del"
The late Charles Dickens it seems, read this de-
loci nld fhaIf l.o.