The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-22
THE GOVERNORS VETO.



Vfvfsectfon Bill.
Olympia. Feb. sz.-SpecIal--A document
OF great importance to the scientific world
was presented 10 the legislature a few
days ago. but owing to the press Of other
matter was not given out for publication
In full It was the veto message Of Gov
McGraw on the Scobey bill TO prevent
vivssection. and II important from the
sact that IT 10 not only the first veto mes
sage offered by the governor, but that II
Is . veto OF q non-poiitical subject. and
yet one that has attracted q great deal
or attention In scientifc circles. The
message follows:
Herewith return without my approval
house bill No. 90. entitled An act to pre-
vent vivisection and to regulate dsssec-
ton In the schools Of the state OF WASH
ingtcn. and to provide q penalty there
for. cannot conscieatiousiy approve SO
broad and sweeping q measure as the
one before me for The following reasons:
There can be no subject OF more vial
Importance to mankind than q thorough
eaa accurate knowledge OF the human
body and the manner In which It's vari-
Gus functions are performed. So impor-
tant ~ this knowledge that only inaccu-
rate conception. misguided though we'll
meant impulse. or perverted emotion can
desire 20 prevent its extension to all
classes OF the community. excluding none,
beast Of all the young. from participating
In the beneficial effect TO be derived from
careful and comprehensive study of such
subjects a. morphology. physiology and
anatomy. II Is a false theory OF the law,
1t appears TO me, which would declare
that only a SPECIAL class In the community
should be permitted to profit by the DEM
onstration OF facts which are most fore
tbly impressed upon the mind by such
practice az 1t 10 proposed TO suppress By
this act
"Vivisection. IS r-acticed In the public
schools by competent persona. does not
imply debasement of the character Of
youth nor cruelty to animals. Since the
days OF Christs apostle, the physician,
who OF oil men has most intimately stud
led the body OF man and beast, has been
taken as type of goodness and human
ity, and Il Is the young men OF the
United States. France and Germany. who
as youths have had opportunity to study
vivisection, who are today. and almost
daily. making discoveries which are OF
man race 1t - the result OF the ysyi-
section studies OF such young men who
began their studies as minors that has
50 lately led to the discovery. after ex-
pertinent. that the blood OF animals. rem
dered immune to 6sphtheria germs. con-
fers protection on another. and from this
has grown the present method Of treat
ment for diphtheria, which makes 1t pos
sibie to save the lives of at least 10000
children In this country alone.
1T IS the results of vivisection which
have given as Pasteur's wonderful treat
ment of hydrophobia, antidotes to lock-
jaw, and has enabled diagnosticians TO
locate with absolute accuracy the various
motor functions, and to some extent the
other functions OF tho brain. which, De-
fore these marvellous and benefcent dis
coveries. were a sealed casket to all men.
! am convinced not only that the results
OF vivisection have been OF inestirnable
service to man ana to the lower animals
but that. in the largest and most impor-
tant association of physicians in the
world, the continuance and extension OF
such Investigations IS essential to the
progress OF knowledge. the relief OF suf-
fering and the saving OF life.' and that
II IL entirely proper that such investiga-
ton DO carried on In public schools and
elsewhere outside OF medical schools
Physiology and anatomy are recognized
subjects of study In our public schools.
Without actual demonstration by dissec-
ton or vivisection, but little knowledge
OF these subjects can be retained by stu
dents. Mere reading and storing in the
mind OF the text books statement OF
facts amounts TO almost nothing. as
teachers for ages have contended and
demonstrated. as compared with work
upon the subject by the student or by the
instructor.
with the approval OF this law a bac-
THEOLOGICAL laboratory recently .estab-
liShed In this state for the study OF GER
tain infectious diseases must close. With
the approval OF this law most valuable
researches now IN progress for the bene-
n. OF the farmer. In the study OF insect
pests. must stop. The term animal. mean
sng, as 81 does. a sentisnt. living being.
az Distinguished from n vegetable or q
mineral, including as Il does so low
class as fnfusoria. would. by the approval
OF this law, prevent the exhibition TO
nnhl,c students OF dlssected sponge.
"ror these reasons, sppreciatlng fully
the important and wide operation OF the
law. I am constrained 20 veto the act"
-
nryy