Evening star., 1897-05-13
PAIN IS NEEDLESS
Proposed Regulation of ViVisection in
the District.
BILL REPORTED TO THE SENATE
Mr.. GaIIinger's Elaborate State
ment in Regard to 1t.
ITS NUMEROUS ADVOCATES

Senator Gallirger reported In the Senate
today the bill for the regulation of vivi-
section in the District of Columbia, unani-
mously adopted by the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia, providing:
1st. For the use of anaesthetics in all
painful experiments living vertebrate
animals, the so-called inoculation expert
. ments. tests of drugs and medicines and
cases of recovery from surgical procedure
being expressly exempted from this re-
Quirement.
I'd. For the licensing of all experimentors
by the District Commissioners except these
who duly authorized officers of the
government of the United States or of
that of the District of Columbia.
Sd For the prohibition of vivisection in
the public schools and in exhibitions for
the general public.
4th For the inspection of all places of
experiment by inspectors to be appointed
by tie President OF the United States.
DIR. Gallinger in reporting the bill sup
pleLlented the elaborate report presented
with 1t last year with another IN which
he answered all the objections which had
been raised by the opponents of the meas
ure and presented the additional argu-
meLts and appeals of its advocates. He
says: Since the former report appeared,
the American Humane Association has
warmly urged the passage of the bill. and
large number of college presidents and
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 inspired
by Washington vivisectors, the support of
those who are not vivisectorS having evil
IDENTIFY been obtained by the vivisectors.
largely through Misrepresentation of the
provisions of the bill
IF the local opponents of this measure
hare sent broadcast through the country
the misleading statement that this bill was
designed to prohibit vivisection,' as they
undoubtedly have, one need not wonder at
the sentiment of opposition thus evoked
1t may denote what is called good poll
tics cn the part of those engaged in vivi-
section in the District Of Columbia thus to
obtain the votes and opinions desired, but
does such misstatement afford ground for
confidence in the accuracy of scientific
men where their personal preferences are
concerned?
We fail to discover in single protest
deT1Eed had read one word of the various
provisions of the measure they denounced
They have been informed from Washing
ton that vivisecton was in danger of be-
ing abolished in the national capital. They
have been furnished. apparently, with the
very phraseology with which protests must
be worded, and they have become swift
witnesses TO protest against dangers that
do not exist.
Physicians and VivisectOrs.
tests the report says: 1T is repeatedly af-
firmed in these protests that the medical
profession is not less humane than other
classes of the community, and the infer
ence is plainly urged that IL we may trust
TO physicians the care of sick and suf-
fering, we may put the same implicit con-
hdence in their treatment of vivisected AMI
mails But how many physicians engaged
in the care of the sick are also engaged in
animal experimentation? The American
ytvisector is, as a rule. man apart from
the medical profession, standing within it
and sheltered by IL, but giving time and
energy and enthusiasm solely to animal eN-
perimentation. Often he has been trained
In foreign laboratories, where no concep-
tiOn of pity for suffering of lower animals
ever finds place. Often, too. he is a young
man educated along a special line, but
without the faintest thought of ever engi-5-
ing in the practice of medicine. 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 practise; but il is a
fact. nevertheless. that those VINO most
active in urging opposition are those whose
regular business and means Ot daily susie
nance is the vivisection Of animals. 1t is
they who oppose. by every means in tbs II
power, legislation to secure .h'. publicity of
their methods the report of their results,
the inspection of their work, which we seek
through this bill; and conceding without a
moments hesitation the humanity of those
fellow-beings, we are not obliged to include
those also whose lives are devoted to other
pursuits and who earn their bread by vivi-
section. One needs but TO study the faces
of some vivisectors to see thereon the in
ffuence of their work, and il is not strange
that one of the leading vivisectors has for
years crucifed his family by describing in
their presence the torments which IL is his
business and pleasure to Infiict Upon dumb
animals.
THE greater part of these adverse state
meats, says the report, conc srn bac-
teriology only Qnoculation experimentation
which is expressly excluded from the opera
ton of the bill.
The report continues: In regard to the
statement of the viviscctors that the sign
ers to the petition in favor of the bill at The
last session of Congress, including six jus
tees of the United States Supreme Court
three justices of the Supreme Court of The
District of Columbia and three Of III,
Court of Claims. the bishops of the Roman
Catholic. the Protestant Episcopal aHt
Methodist Episcopal churches III Washing
ton. together with the leading; clergy of al
denominations, the leading lawyers an(
many other prominent citizens, did no
know what they were doing, the truth Il
that many were already interested in tn
subject, and that the others had j; careful
ly explained TO them. The strength o
their conviction was shown by the fac
that, although they were solicited by tn
vivlsectors by letter and by personal inter
views. as soon as the list was published L
withdraw their names from the petition
not one out of the hundreds of names wa
withdrawn
yiyisectOrs Opposed TO Regulators.
1T should be carefully noted" the repof
continues. that IL it were true, our op
ponents in the government service woul
have us believe. that no crGelties are per
petrated In the government Laboratories
and that inspection is freely invited, n
possible reason other than mental aberra
ton could be assigned for the strenuou
ard unremitting exertions that have bee
made and the time that has been spent b.
busy men TO stir up every possible lnfiu
ence 10 defeat the passage of this bill
They have admitted that the crueltie
against which the bill Is directed are wrong
They assert that they have themselve
nothing to conceal, yet they move heave
and earth &c prevent legislation intende
merely TO provide against such crueltie
and TO legalize the very inspection whic
they Profess TO invite
When cashier of bank objects absc
lutely TO making any report of his bushes
and refuses inspection of his books becaus
these involve an 'imputation upon his pr
bity.' and then proceeds to mention mine
inSonveniences, We see at once that
shaping of legislation to meet the minor oil
1ections will make acceptable the publictt
which he really fears. No matter how n