The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-22
VIVIsECTIOH.

Though the practice Of Vivisection dates
back through many centuries 10 Harvey,
Galen and even TO the Alexandrian school,
there was never period, perhaps, when it
commanded the degree of interest as now.
Cutting operations on living animals, even
for the purpose OF acquiring physiological
and surgical knowledge, has met with severe
denunciation for inhunen cruelty, and it
has been but few years since Physicians
prGcticing it in several countries were sub
jsoted to prosecution. In London, at one
time, society 20 imposed largelyof members
of the medical profession Was organized to
oppose and have prohibited the practice.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals in New YORK, headed by Henry
Bsrgh, hiss also made demonstrations against
it. Locking st the operations only
and leaving out a consideration Of
the results sought for, the practice
is most Objectionable. The kind quality of
the human heart is shocked at the inHiction
of PAIN by cutting into the flesh Of living
animals, sven those of ths lower order. But
despite opposition and denunciation vivi-
section has held its plsce IN colleges Of sur
gerry, and it's advocates claim discoveries by
it which are destined to secure immense
saving Ct human life which without the
experiments IL viviseotioR Bolld be i'm
possible.
In paper entitled Oar Recent Debts to
Vivisection. in The Popular Science Month
ly for May, DR.. William W. Keen, referring
10 the Danger from wounds of the abdomen,
staiea Of 3 III such cases by guu-shot during
the late Civil War there were only 4l4 re-
coveries. The heroic treatment which dis
covefies from yivisecti9n now sppesr to
authorize, being then unknown, symptoms
were treated ss they arose. Bat it is now
he'd By the Arguments az Isgults Of opera.
tons by Sims, Gross, Otis, Mcclure and
ether eminent Americana, that the abdomen
may be oIened and tbs injuries ascertained
and repaired. We quote from Dr.. Kssn's
paper
In May OF last year Parkes, OF Chicago, reported
TO the American Medical Association series of
systematic experiments on shirtykeTen dogs, that
were etherizeo, then shot, the abdomen opened,
teIy etc. treated by appropriate surgical methods.
The result confirmed the belief awakened by earl
Ter experiments and observations that surgery
mida5Ie wounds, By sewing them Up in various
ways, or even by removing piece of the bowel
snd uniting the cut ends Hard upon the heels OF
this Dportant paper. and lar. ely Rs its result,
comes "A striking improvement in practice. And
member, that this is only the hrst fruit OF rich
harvest for future time, in sll countries IN peace
and in war.
November 2. of last year. a was brought to
the bsmbeTs street Hospital in New York with
piStolshO wound N the abdomen. Under care
ful sntiseptc precautions aud following the indl
cations of PsrKes. the abdomen Was opened by DR..
Bull, coil after coil OF intestines drawn out, the
bullet was found and removed, and seven wounds
OF the intestines we're successfully discovered aud
properly treated, and the paueut made an uninter
rupted recovery. recovery, after so many
wounds any one Of which would necessarily have
been fatal under the old methods OF treatment,
shows that we have now entered upon a proper
ana successful method OF treatment for such
frightiul accidents.
This is bold aggression upon conservative
practice Of the past and plausible as it may
appear. must have time TO sccustom the pub
lie TO it and win confidence in its safety.
Human sensibilities and affection wi revolt
against it so long IS there ia hope OF recovery
without resort TO vivisectiOn. But the
reasoning in its favor is strong, aud with anti
septic progress vivisection may have now be-
come kissing to mankind.