The times., 1897-05-14

vlding, first, for the use OF anesthetics in
all painful experiments on living verte-
brate animals, the so-called incubation
experiments, tests of drugs and medicines,
and eases OF recovery from surgical pro-
cedure being expressly exempted from
this requirement Second, for the | ioens-
ing OF all experiInentors by the District
CoInmiss toner's, eXcepG those who are
duly authorized officers of the Government
OF the United States or OF that OF the
District OF Col umbia. Third, for the
prohibition of viyisection in the public
schools and in exhibitions for the general
public Fourth, for the inspection of all
places OF experiment by inspectors To lie
appointed by the President Of the United
States.
Dr. Gallinger, in reporting the bill, sup
piements tile elaborate report presented
with il last year by another, in which
he answers all the objections which have
been raised by the opponents OF the meas
ure and presents the additional argu-
ments and appeals of its advocates. He
said:
''Since the former report appeared the
American Humane Association has warm
large number of college presidents AID
other influential men and women In all
parts of the country have given it their
Endorsement. Protests against the pas
sage of the bill have also been submitted
To the Senate, manifestly made or in-
spired by Washington vivisectors, the
support of those who are not vivisec-
tors having evidently been obtained by
.~.x-su. naHrh siGF
resentation OF the provisions of the bill.
If the local opponents of this
measure have sent broadcast through the
country the misleading statement that
tins bill was designed to prohibit viyi
section, as they undoubtedly have, one
need not wonder at the sentiment Of OPP
position thus evoked. 1t may denote what
is called good politics on the part Of
those engaged in vivisection in the Dis
trict Of Columbia thus to obtain the votes
and opinions desired; but does such mis-
statement afford ground for confidence in
the accuracy OF the scientific men where
their personal preferences are concern
ed?
We fail TO discover in single protest
the slightest proof that those who con-
demned had read one word Of the various
provisions Of the measure they denounced.
They have been informed from Washington
that viviscction was in danger Of being
abolished in the National Capital. They
have been furnished, apparently, with lie
very phraseology with which protests must
be worded. and they have become swift
witnesses to protest against dangers that
do not exist
In speaking of the statements of the
protests, the report says: 1t is repeatedly
affirmed in these protests that the medical
profession is not less humane than other
classes of the community, and the inference
is plainly urged that if we may trust TO
physicians the care of our sick and suf-
fering, we ma y put the same implicit con-
fidence in their treatment of vivisected
animals But how many physicians engaged
In the care of the sick are also engaged
I'm animal experimentation? The American
vivisector is, as rule, man apart from
the medical profession, standing within
It, and sheltered by it, but giving time
and energy and enthusiasm solely to animal
experimentation Often he has been
trained in foreign laboratories, where no
conception Of pity for suffering Of lower
animals ever finds place Often, too, he
is young man educated along a special
line, but without the faintest thought OF
ever engaging i'll the practice of medicine
so far as that includes the care Of the
sick
In the list of those who oppose this
legislation there are, it is true, the names
of some physicians in regular practice; but
IL lis a fact, nevertheless, that those who
are most active in urging opposition are
those whose regular business and means of
daily sustenance is the viyisection of ari-
mails. 1t is they who oppose, by every
means in their power, legislation to secure
the publicity of their methods, the report
oftheir results, the inspection of their work,
which we seek through this bill; and con-
ceding without a moments hesitation the
humanity Of those who devote their lives TO
the care OF their fellow-beings. we are not
obliged to include those also whose lives
are devoted TO other pursuits aud who cam
their bread by viyisection. One needs but
to study the faces of some vivisectors to see
thereon the influence of their work and
1t is not strange that one of the leading
vivisectors has for years cWcified lis
family by describing in their presence tie
tornents which il is his business and
pleasure to inflct upon dumb animals.
1.-THE greater part of these adverse state
pents,'' says the report, concern bac-
teriology only finoculajion experimental
tion), which is expressly excluded from
the operation of the BILL The report
continues: I'm regard to the statement
of the vivisectors, that the signers TO the
petition in favor of the bill at the last
session OF Congress, including six justices
Of the United States Supreme Court, three
susticpS Of the guDreme ,courf of the Dis
trict of Columbia and three OF the Court of
Claims. the bishops of the Roman Catholic,
the Protestant Episcopal and Methodist
Episcopal churches in Washington, to-
gether with the leading clergy of all lie
nominations, the leading law yers, and
many other prominent citizens did not
know what they were doing, the truth is
that many We're already interested in the
subject and that the Others had it carefully
explained TO them. The strength of their
conviction was shown by the fact that,
although they were solicited by the vigi-
sectors by letter and by personal inter
rews, as soon as the list was published, to
Withdraw their names from the petition,
not one out of the hundreds OF names was
withdrawn.
ut should be carefully noted" the re-
port continues, ''thatif it were true, as our
opponents in the Government service would
have US believe, that no cruelties are perpe-
trated in the Government laboratories, and
that inspection is freely invited, no possi-
bic reason other than mental alteration
could be assigned for the strenuous and un-
renitting eNertions that have been made
and the time that has been spent by busy
men to stir up every possible influence TO