The New York herald., 1879-10-28
HORRORS OF VIvIsEcTIoN.
ANOTHER LETTER ON THE SUBJECT FROM ME-
BERGH.

BERGH.
To THE EDIToR OF THE HERALD:-
In 1876 the groans and agony Of the lower animal
world subjected to tho torments of the vivisector
touched the conscience of the British public and
Her Majesty the Queen ordered commission "to
inquire into the practice Of subjecting live animals
to experiments for scientific purposes" This CON-
mission was composed of the following surgeons.
physicians and Psychologists: ts:-Edward viscount
Cardwell Sir John Burgess Karslake. Thomas Henry
Huxley, John Eric Erichsen and Richard Holt Hut
ton The report of these eminent gentlemen is
before me and contains 3SS pages royal octave Of
closely printed matter.
However obligingy disposed. appreciate tho fact
that you cannot afford space for the evidence OF the
forsy-ive distinguished experts who gave their tes
timony on the subject. I shall epitomize tho
evidence principally Of those who oppose these
perfments. and others VINO do not stand wholly
committed against them.
The first gentleman called was Sir Thomas
Watson. who although in favor OF vivisecton.
sponded to an inquiry addressed to him 'That.
however mercifully conducted he did not think an
expermenter justified in repeating experiments
after he has satisfied himself upon the ques-
tion at issue; and. second, that many of tho
periments OH the nervous system. such as those of
Sir Charles Bell aud Magendie. useless and
cruel to repeat, inasmuch results arc estab-
Iished."
Sir George Burrows the next called; who, al
though strongly in favor of experimenting, said,
"rhat experiments should not be permitted over and
in schools to illustrate what already es
tablished."
Sir James Paget. who. along with Huxley and Dar-
win, prepared the set of resolutions which were
passed at meeting Of the Medical Association Of
Edinburgh, to be presented to Parliament, ut the
second section reads thus:-'No painful experiment
ILL., A.
law or fact already demonstrated moreover. expert
mentaton without the employment OF anasthctics
is fitting exhibition for teaching purposes
The above resolutions also signed by Professor
Owen, Sir William Gull Sir William Jenner, the
president Of the College OF Physicians the president
Of the College Of Surgeons and many other leaders in
science.
Professor G. NJ. Humphrey was next examined,
from whose evidence it is to be inferred that the
dissectng of living animals is delightful study,
and its consequences-namely. blood and suffering
exquisitely interesting slight inconsistency.
however. in the evidence of this tender
hearted gentleman when he says that he "once
very fond of shooting and that one of the things
which led to his giving it up the pain of the
animals after they were wounded!
Thenext expert was Henry Wentworth Aclard.
regis professor of medicine i'll the University Of
Oxford fellow of the Royal Society and president of
the Medical Council. His examination. which
that he had decided opinion at all, and hence
swung around the entire disk OF inquiry. He
not certain that cruel experiments should be pre-
vented by law. he quite that the medi-
cal faculty should take charge of them: he knew
to animals. and that Brown-Sequard had made the
discovery that epilepsy could be given to guinea
pigs. He thought that experiments tor demonstrat-
and then qualified his opinion to render 1t
neither positive nor negative
Sir William Fergusson-surgeon to the Queen,
Surgeon to Kings Hospital and fellow Of the Royal
Society next took the stand. and the clear. sharp
and decided testimony of that disting guished man
forms pleasing contrast to the halting aud uncer-
tain views OF his predecessor.
After expressing his condemnation Of oft repeated
experiments, for demonstration, he said. that
Hunters first experiment of the tying OF the ar
teries was performed on the human subject. aud it
long aiterward that the same operation ap-
been left entirely untouched"
missionto wit, Have the great performers of these
painful experiments OH animals been generally great
surgeonsY he said:-"I am not aware OF any great
surgeons having been great experimentors on the
lower animals. The experiments OF sir Ashley
kind before referred to. which we're first developed
the human subject. l am not aware that any
very expert operator on the lower animals has made
himself thereby expert operator on the human
subject or ever prded himself on being good
operator on the lower animals"
The celebrated Surgeon Sync, although the author
OF many doubtful experiments on animals relative
to the life death and growth OF bono. lived to
press an adherence such operations; and in . !
special report of his own, in connection with
gentlemen interested in veterinary surgery, pub
iished in the fortieth volume OF .Tie Veterinarian
may be read eve have great satisfaction in pub.
fishing the following protest-We, the Court OF Ex-
aminers for Scotland OF the Royal College of veter
mary Surgeons, desire to express opinion that
the performance of operations on living animals is
altogether unnecessary and useless for tho purpose
That protest is signed by james Syme chairman;
James Dunsmore. president OF tho Royal College OF
Veterinary Surgeons; j. Cartledge, William Cock
burn William Robertson, Charles Seeker James
Cowrie and John Wilkinson. / would here remark
vivisectors generally repudiatsd their practices in
mature life and 1t Is well known that the distin:
guished Haller fell into permanent anguish of
conscience on account Of his vivisections.
Being compelled to condense this interesting evil
dence. will only add some brief responses or this
learned man to interrogat torics:-
"Do you think these experiments on the lower
animals have contributed very much to mitigating
pain and removing the suffering Of the human
racer"
Answer-'I do not think they have. All the ex-
periinents on the lower animals have been done
since they were concusivcly applied to tho human
subject. Moreover, these experiments eondu ucted
IN most reckless manner. and IL It were known to
the public ut large would call tor interference aud
bring the reputation of certain scientific mon far
below what 1t should be-"
FOLSOM
The next witness was Dr. Alfred Swayne Taylor,
fellow OF the Royal College Physicians. lecturer
at Guys Hospital and author OF several works
toxicology. This gentleman is regarded the
highest authority IN the matter of murder by
have determined the verdicts in the celebrated
OF Palmer and Smcthurst. as wcll many
others during the past twenty years. At page 81 OF
the report this gentleman. In reply to the inquiry,
says:'"rhat he does not think 1t absolutely neces-
ssry to poison animals for the purpose of demon
straton. for there Is no ordinary poison the effects
of which not we'll acquainted with. 1
have relied great deal minute descriptions and
models of the stomachs OF human beings,
and it Is not necessary to kill animals for that pur
pose. do not find that students gained moro from
experiments than from tho splendid drawings and
models attainablc." During forty years study
have not experimental more than twelve or
| fourteen ANIMALS"
Ipr George Isollestop prosessor of e,ator,v aud
physiology ut Oxford. was next called. 1t was his
opinion that nothing could be alleged favor of
vivisection, TX practised merely for the sake of
's specially likely to tempt man into ca areessness;
the passive Impressions produced by the sight OF
suffering grows weaker while tho habit and pleas
ura COMMUNICATING grnw nws strnnncr by renetiinn