The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-11
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH II. 1900.


Discussion ON NiVisertiOn.
The New England Anti-vivlsection So
c.s.r publishes in IT'S official organ some
Interesting things which happened during
IRE hearing on the bill for the Ie-
strioiion OF vivisection in Massachusetts.
A, this hearing yiyiseCtors and profess
sianal men closely connected with their
interests spoke against the bill. while on
the other side were DISTINGUISHED petition
ers representing all the learned profess
sions. including that Of medicine. The pc
tition OF the Observation-Disclosures was
signed by nearly one hundred physicians
IN Boston and vicinity.
One OF the things which must strike
those who read the report OF this hearing
is he amount OF ignorance displayed by
the opponents OF the bill. They never
heard" OF most Of the horrible things
which are said, on good authority, TO have
been done in the laboratories of vivisec-
tors Asked il the animals suffered pain
when subjected, without anesthetics, to
certain experiments, the vivisectors re-
piled that they could not tell" Yet
they we're quite positive in asserting that
the benefit to humanity outweighed the
possible pain suffered by the animal
Notwithstanding the fact that they did
not know how much the animal endured,
how many fruitless experiments we're
performed, or how much Of the progress
made by medical science was directly de-
pendent on yivisection.
President Eliot, OF Harvard College,
made the remarkable statement that he
should not feel like putting any limit to
the suffering Of animals for one child. In
other words, he would, if necessary, tor
lure q thousand guinea pigs, cats, or rab-
bits II by so doing he could save the life Of
one human being. This statement Is
worth thinking about. Such a radical
sentiment, ingrained in the civilized
mind. involves the continual measuring
OF the value OF one existence with an
other. The human being, as the most
valuable Of all the animals, is thus given
the right not only 10 kill but to torture an
fnasfnite number of members Of the
brute erection. 1t IS but a step from this
idea to the notion that the civilized man
has an inherent right to torture the saw
age and use him for experiments IN vivi-
section. ~ necessary.
The principle involved in this business
differs somewhat from that involving
merely the taking Of life. 1t is sometimes
necessary to sacrifice the life OF one hu
man being for the good OF the community.
When war is necessary to protect the in
terests OF a nation, a certain number OF
men must die for the rest; but that is a
matter OF common consent, and a neces-
sary condition Of citizenship. The reason
why the theory Of vivisection, in spite Of
ali the fine words that can be used about
it. is revolving and cruel, is that it in
wolves the suffering OF the defenceless.
II civilization. Christianity, and progress
mean anything at all, they mean Justice
aad mercy. not the torture of helpless
creatures, human or otherwise. II is not
desirable that children and young people
should grow up with the idea that it Is
permissible for them to infict pain on
Others. for the sake OF any benefit, how
ever great 10 themselves. They should
be taught that il they must kill animals,
Il is their duty TO do it as painlessly as
sshed 10Y any act Of intentional cruelty
Il is not safe to form the ideas Of society
on any other theory. The child who IS
allowed TO torment a cat VIII extend his
experiments to his younger brother or
sister. and IL be is permitted to continue
these practices. and is naturally inclined
10 cruelty, he viii be anything but a
blessing 10 his wife children, and asso-
cisics. We. as a people, cannot possibly
sGord 10 sanction cruelty in any form.
The opposition to vivisection is often
sueercd at as emotionalism and sentimeu-
taIity. There are various kinds Of emo
tlonslism. what about the kind which
leads a mob Of savages to howl and dance
around a stake where a human being is
slowly roasting? Is not the physician who
shrnks from innicting pain unless it is
absolutely necessary safer person to have
charge OF the inyalids Of the community
than the enc who is more intent on a
beautiful operation" than on the life or
feelings OF his paiicnt2 There Is not much
chance that any doctor viii refrain from
performing an operation or doing any
thing which wlil cause pain. II Il VIII, in
th. cad. benefit the patient. Il is abso-
lutsly certain that there are some men
f. me profession who. In their zeal for
l.nculcdec. VIII torture not only animals
b.. human beings. II IS at this end Of the
scale that restriction IS Necessary.