New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-18
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE DOG IN BONE-GRAFTING.
HIS RELATION TO THE vIvIsECTION QUESTION
TIE ELL. PENDING In CONGRESS.

THE DOG IN BONE-GRAFTING.
HIS RELATION TO THE vIvIsEcTIoN QUESTION
THE BILL PENDING IN CONGRESS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In a late issue OF your paper I notice
article relating TO President Haines Of the So
ciety for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals re-
fusing TO give up dog to be used In a bone
grating operation upon Elsie Booth. This article
seems rather to take sides against the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty Animals and its action
in this matter and appears to favor the vivisec-
tionists In their efforts to secure absolute au-
thority to proceed with their so-caed scientific
experiments upon living animals II seems to me
that In this the decision OF the 9. p. G. A. Is
greatly TO be commended Why should an limo
cent animal be made to suffer for surgeons
criminal neglect? II the physician who attended
Elsie Booth at the time OF her accident had un-
derstood his business there would have been
reason for the scientific torture which DR.. Phelps
proposed 10 infiict upon helpless dog. Perhaps
II the students OF our medical colleges were to be
therapeutics and less in the revolving system OF
experimentation upon lower animals. such cases
1t is common failing Of human nature that
when some one has fallen short OF his duty to his
and seizes some one weaker than he, "A helpless
innocent. as IA sacrifice for his own sins We hnd
this principle applied all through life but nowhere
strongly as in the of the vivisector. Are
these men who are trying SO hard to defeat the
love and pity for suffering humanity? This bill
is not for the total prevention OF vivisecion. but
IS intended only TO enforce moderate restrictive
law such exists In England. 1t would not do
away with experiments on living animals to any
alarming extent, nor would II seriously hamper
the physio ogist In his research and scientific In
vcstigation
The bill is designed TO restrict vvlsection in
such a that II shall be done only In places
authorized by competent authorities. and by duly
licensed and approved men. II provides that
every experiment must be performed with view
to the advancement OF physiological knowledge or
OF knowledge which will be useful for saving or
prolonging life allrviating suffering" II fur
Their provides that the animal must during the
whole Of the experiment. be completely under the
influence of ether choroform sufficient to pre-
vent II from feeling pain but exception Is
made IN the of so-called incubation expert
mente. go.
As "A total anti-vivscct ZIONIST look upon the bill
now before Congress halfway measure. cal
cuaed TO do little harm to the vivisectonist. ana
not very much good to the cause OF ant-vivisec-
ton: and why IL should create so much antagonsm
among scientists and medical men Is question
which has far remained unanswered. II looks
TO me as though these scientific experiments
were much worse than the s. i. C. A. has thought
them to be, for until now this society has not
concerned itself very much with the vivsection
question. beyond strongly opposing the School Dill
which was presented to the State Legisla allure last
winter At any rate. II Is matter worth consid-
erinc GRACE r. REED,
Treasurer New-York State Administration So
ciety.
New-York Jan. Il. 1891.