The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-23
VIVISECTION.
Extent to Which 1t Is Carried I'm the
United States and Abroad.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
In your issue of Aug. 10 you gave. under
heading ''Vivisection Bugaboo," some
statements to your readers on which L ask
space to comment. You say:
LAS matter of fact, there is really very
rule, when it becomes necessary to dem
onStrate the workings Of the vital organs
to students or to test some theory or dis
coVery meant for the benefit OF humanity
There are in Paris, France, over one
thousand places where animals are vivi-
sected. AT the Pasteur Institute, Paris, it
was estimated that on an average day
there were 1900 animals in cages, either
awaiting Vivisection or on which expert
ments had already been performed. AL
though this number is great 1t is exceed
ed by other establishments. At Afford
only few miles from Paris, vast numbers
of animals are tortured daily 1t is said
that Schiff Vivsected ten dogs each week.
at Geneva, and that in ten years he vivi-
sected 1900 dogs at Florence. In the
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts,
an account was recently given of expert
ments on 800 cats besides those on many
dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, and all
these operations We're made within a short
time. The vivisectional experiments at the
Pennsylvania University, and at Washing
ton, ID. c., are on a large scale.
In regard to the necessity of demonstra-
lions and the benefit of humanity derived
therefrom, let me quote Sir Benjamin
Richardson: Pain, when it is excited and
sustained in any animal obscures and
falsities for the time all the other vital
phenomena which admit Of investigation
In plain words, it is utterly impossible to
observe natural functions under the shad-
OW of main either in man ar opirooI for bc
who tries to observe under these circum-
stances must make so many allowances
Tor the circumstance under which he is OBJ
serving 1t. lie finds 1t extremely difficult
even ii 1t be possible, to be precise in his
conclusions. am certain that vital ex-
perlments, to have any value at all, must
be conducted without any trace of the dis
turbing influence of suffering, whether man
or the lower animal be the subject of OBJ
SefVdtlOn; nor do l stand alone in this
view. l have heard it expressed by Sir
Benjamin Brodie DR. Baly (perhaps the
most accomplished and learned physiologist
l nave met, Sir John Forbes, Dr. W. B.
carpenter and Dr.. John Snow. Sir Charles
Bell and Alexander Walker also shared
TINS view, that pain as a disturbing inhu-
ence Is OF so serious a character that quite
apart from sentiment on the matter, /
thlnk 1t best to exclude it altogether. 1t
cannot guide. 1t must deceive
Anaesthetics are seldom used. A great
authority in vivisection, author of a stand
ard text book, has recorded that anaes-
thetics should be avoided in ali accurate
experiments. When experiments are
MADE on the nerves, as the object is usually
TO observe the effect of pain, to render
the animal insenSible to pain would at once
defeat the object of the experiments E7x
perlments are made as to the effect of
drugs and pOisonS, when no anaesthetic can
be used, because its effect could not he dis
llngulshed from that of the drug or noison
Wnen diseases are artifciaIly induced the
effect is watched for a. long time-weeits
months-and it would, of course. be out If
the question to keep the animal anaesthet
lzed all the time. Many animals die If
anything like complete anaesthesia be
produced.
Perhaps 1 should add that there is No
ant-Vivisection society of the United
States, as you say; but that the American
ANU Nivisection Society, at PhiadeIpbia.
the Illinois Anti-Vivisection Society at
aurora; the New England Vivisection
society, at Boston, anC the New Yori+
State Anti,Viyisection Society, at SAUCER
tes, are al doing their best to circulate
the knowledge Of the nature and extent of
VlVlsectonaI experiments as widely a.
possible. The anti-viVsection nOvennen+ iS
not that of women, as nearly all the nHine1S
IN these societies are men, and many of
the members are also men. In orr own co
clety, which is the only one I can sneaI,
Tor authoritattvely in this respect Az
eighths or the members are women 0f
the eleven doctors of medicine whose amos
are on our membership list nine are rne,n
~ RENSSELAER, PORTS
VICE President New York Anti-Vivtsectior
Society. ''49eolloh
saugerties, N Y, Aug IA.