Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-09
VIyISEClION.
HOW 1T rs DONE IN BOSTON.
lBoston TrayeIIer.l

BY means Of partitions two rooms
one in Newton and one in Athol--were
made as much alike as possible, both
as to shape and cubic space. Each room
had a capacity Of about 700 cubic feet,
which was somewhat larger than
room in MidGletown in which fatal
case of poisoning from water-gas actu-
ally occurred. Three dogs, two cats, and
two rabbits, all apparently healthy and
strong, were placed in the room in
Athol, and the water-gas in use there,
containing about 30 per cent. Of car
bonic oxide, was allowed to flow in
from a single ordinary burner, at the
rate Of six feet per hour. The expert
ment began at Ills A. NJ, and at
l2:45 p. NJ. vomiting, delirium, con-
vulsions, ETC., had already been
noted. Half an hour later all
the animals were unconscious or
apparently so, failing to re-
spond to vigorous knocks and calls. At
2:30 p. NJ, or about three hours from
the start, the two cats were dead, and
the other animals were prone and quite
unconscious. The dogs died at 3, 4,
and $3.50 o'clock, respectively; the
rabbits also at 6:30. In word, symp-
toms Of poisoning were well developed
in an hour and half. Deaths began
to occur in little more than three hours,
and all were dead within eight hours.
This experiment was witnessed by
members Of your board.
In the corresponding experiment at
Newton, made withcoal-gas containing
about I per cent. Of carbonic oxide,
two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and
two pigeons were placed in the room,
and the gas was introduced from an
ordinary burner, as before, and at the
same rate-six feet per hour. The ex-
pertinent began at morning, aud for
three and one-half hours no symptoms
Of consequence were observed, and
then only drowsiness and general
anxiety, with salvation in one case.
At 4 p. Nj. e., after eight hours
nothing more than gradual exaggera-
ton of these symptoms had occurred.
Recovery would, apparently, still have
been possible, and even easy, at this
time.
After twenty-four hours. e., at 8
A. NJ. Of the next day-one cat and
one rabbit were dead, but the others
were not even unconscious, being still
responsive to knocks and calls.
The professors also experimental on
themselves to slight extent in SINH
lar manner.
Continuing, Professor Sedgwick said !:
"We conclude that the effect will be
the same, in kind, on human beings as
Oh the animals experimental with-that
is, as regards the gas investigation. We
have no painful yiviSections here unless
some important investigation is to be
made. Our viyisections are made while
the animals are under the influence of
anasthetics - chloroform generally,
rarely morphia. The animals used for
the purpose are mostly frogs, rarely
dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, and
pigeons, called higher animals. Nearly
every day we have painless yivisectiOn
for teaching purposes.
This morning a graduate from a
western college set at work to study
the physiology of the heart. lie took
several frogs, chloroformed them, cut
off their heads, then exposed the hearts,
and studied their movements, In these
lower animals the heart does not cease
beating for hours, and in some cases
days, after the head is severed, but in
case of all animals higher than reptiles
the heart stops almost Immediately
on dcoaPitatiom. In many cases OF
viyisection the spinal cord is also
destroyed, which prevents any nerve
feeling. No painful experiment should
be made to enforce on students
facts already known. | should not
stop at pain of lower animals-that
is, reptiles, etc.-if by yivisection or
dissection human lives can be saved or
human suffering relieved, or if there is
a reasonable hope of doing it. | think
there is a great Misunderstanding in
regard to painful and painless viyisec-
ton. The latter is as painless as dis
section after death. Dogs and rabbits
are used more especially to learn Of
blood-presSure, and for the study of
hCart-mOyementS, respiration. etc. Rab-
bits are usually given hydrate of choral
and dogs morphine. | have given a
dog enough morphine TO kill twenty
men. lie was made perfectly uncon-
sciOus, but still lived.
People get the idea that we take
dogs in here, tie them down, and carve
them while they are bowling with pain.
No such thing is done, as it would de-
feat the objects wished to be attained,
for they would not be in a normal con-
ditiOn. In most experiments it is alb
solutely necessary to have the animals
under operation perfectly quiet, as re-
CARDS pulse, etc. Therefore we
must give them an anesthetic,
tie effect Of which we well
know. For the purpose of gaining an
idea of the normal heart, blood-yessels,
and mechanics of the circulation of the
blood, we have an apparatus called the
kymograph, consisting Of long roll Of
white paper, made to travel between
cylinders by clock-work, and with the
greatest regularity. On this paper trac-
ings are made with pen in connection
with moDometer, and this is connected
directly with the artery of the animal,
which must be entirely unconscious,
firmly secured by holder near by,
strapped to board. The heart causes
the blood in the artery to push, and
wayy line is made on the paper, which
can be measured and studied. Impor-
tant results in regard to the effect of
different drugs upon the heart and blood
vessels are thus obtained, and this
without pain to the animals, as they are
always put to death without being
allowed to recover consciousness"
A Rose SHOW I'm London.
TIL