The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-03

nj OF the patient by reputable physicians
and surgeons. II is intended simply for
the prevention of such shocking incidents
as those reported in the German medical
journals. on the authority of eminent Ger
man physicians who admitted with ap-
parent unconcern the commission Of crimes
against helpless and ignorant women and
children. 1t is not unreasonable to sup
pose that INSCRIPTIONS physicians in this
country may seek to add to their expert
ence and skill by similar methods, and all
intelligent people will agree that this
ought TO be made impossible.
The bill provides as follows:
That no physician, surgeon, psthologist student
Of medicine or Of science, or any other person
shall make or perform upon the body OF any
human being, in any hospital, asylum, retreat, or
ufunaiy established for the treatment OF the SICK,
IT in any other place in the District OF COLUMBIA,
any scientific experiment involving pain. distress,
or Tisk TO life and health, whether by adminstra-
tion Of poisonous drugs for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning their toNicty. by inoculatlng the germs OF
disease. by grating caHccrous tumors into raithy
tissues, or by performance Of any surgical opera
ton for any other object than the ameloraion Of
the patient except subject to the restrictions and
regulations hereinafter prescribed
It is provided that special license may
be issued for such experiments to quail
fed physicians or surgeons. subject TO GER
tain restrictions. The person to be oper-
ated upon must be not less than twenty
years of age. and in complete possession
Of his or her reasoning faculties. The
operator must at least one week in adj
vance. apply to the Commissioners for
license. and in the application must fully
state the object and methods Of the pro-
posed experiment, and enclose the written
permission of the subject. signed in the
presence of two witnesses. II the Com
missioners, upon investigation, are salts
fed that the subject is aware of the nature
Of the experiment and is quite willing
that it should be made the license may
then be issued. Six months later the in
yestigator must present a report Of the
results of his work to the Commissioners,
and in the event of any untOward cir
cumstances. the full details may be re-
quired to be reported and printed 1t will
be seen that the work Of the vivisector is
thus hedged about with so many restric-
tions that there would be some difficulty
in evading the law 1t would prohibit alb
solutely any such horrible occurrences as
those reported in the German medical
journals.
Under such a law il would be impossible
for the yivisector to go into a hospital
ward. and administer poison to newborn
infants. in order to watch the effect. He
could not inoculate q healthy child with
germs Of consumption. nor could he. under
ton. graft cancerous tumors into the flesh
Of a helpless and ignorant woman, with
out considerable risk to himself II the
thing happened to be discovered. The
German physicians who did all these
things seem to have been utterly uncon-
scious that anyone could object to hem.
They told the story themselves appar-
entity with pride and satisfaction. in care
fully written articles published in repu-
table papers They were allowed to make
their experiments with the fun permission
OF the authorities in charge Of the patients.
1t is not desirable that such things should
be allowed in American hospitals. espe-
cially in those which exist for the benefit
Of the poor and ignorant classes OF the
.
According to Senator Depew, there is
no division among the majority in either
House as to the power Of Congress 10
Iegislate for Porto Rico without regard
to the Constitution. There is a similar
unanimity among the American masses
outside. only it is the other way. Per
haps the result Of this difference may be
that while Hanna will get the campaign
contributions, the Democratic candidate
may get the votes in November.
Taylor, the insurrectionst Kentucky
leader, is reported as at his old home,
surrounded by a number of his mountain
adherents 1t is supposed that a con-
ference is being held as to the advisability
Of flight or fight on his part. Certain
circumstances seem to indicate a proba-
bility that, in anticipation Of arrest on
a charge Of completely in the sssassina-
ton Of Governor Goebel, Taylor may
abandon Frankfort and make an attempt
to reach Indiana. the Governor Of which
State is alleged TO have promised safe
harbor to Republicans fleeing from Ken
! lucky justice.
Senator Cullom of Illinois is great
'logIcian. He AYERS that the statutory laws
of the United States, not locally inapplica-
bic. can extend themselves to Porto Rico,
while the Constitution, without which they
would be without force or effect, cannot
20 there except by act of Congress. The
humor Of the argument lies in the APP
parent belief that any intelligent American
can be found willing TO swallow it,
II is evident that the Delsgoa Bay award
is quite as unpopular in England as it is
in this country, and it IS more than likely
that the British Government would gladly
act on a hint from Washington that the
United States would be willing to partiei-
pate in a joint rejection Of the decision.
II Mr.. Mckinley has any feeling for the
looted and outraged American claimants ne
will not hesitate as to the proper course TO
| pursue in the matter.
The Late Benjamin F. Butler.
Prom Tho New England Magazine)
Once when General Butler was in Congress he
rose Ia his place and gently insinuated that the
member who was occupying the floor trans
crossing the limit Of debate Why, General
said the member, in repr0aChful tones You
/ divided your time with me y know did,
reioined the grim old warrior, but | did not
l divide eternity with YOU" But perhaps But
/ ler's most savage retoT was made in political
! convention. in which distinguished Unitarian
divine ] think il James Freeman Clarke, sat
IS 4 delegate. When the subject Of candidates
was being discussed this clergyman announced
/ that II certain nomination made he would