The evening times., 1900-01-25
THE WAR ON vIvIsEcTIoN.
for the Bill Now Pending
ina Congress-

in Congress.
To the Editor OF The Times:
A thoughtful physician said to me re-
Gently: "A large part OF the vivisectiou is
done, not by the doctors. but T.. biolo
gists." At first thought this utterance
seemed to emphasize the humanity OF the
medical profession, but a second thought
suggests itself which contradicts the first
impression Is the medical profession in
any measure relieved from fullest response
bility concerning the unwarrantable cruel
ties perpetrated in biological labOratOries2
II would seem not. In the journal Of the
American Medical Association" =" under date
OF December %. 1899. the president Of the
association issued an appeal (destined 10
reach perhaps 5000 medical mem. in
which he said. referring TO the bill for the
restriction Of vivisectiOn now before Con-
gress: Il take the opportunity OF appeal
ing TO the entire profession Of the country
to exert itself to the utmost 90 defeat this
most cruel and inhuman effort to promote
human and animal misery and death and
TO restrict scientific research. II is of the
utmost Importance that every physician
who shall read this appeal shall inn
mediately communicate especially with
the Senator's from his State shall
also invoke the aid OF the Repre-
sentatives from his OF other districts
in his State. and by various personal
efforts shall aid in defeating this bill" "
He added: 1t is especially requested
also that all of the national. State. and
county societies. 81 their next meeting.
take action looking toward the same end.
II regular meetings are not soon to be
held. special meetings should be called.
Correspondence is invited from all those
who can give any aid
In this 4nupaf the continent of fha
tire medical profession is, we may infer.
clearly indicated by one chosen as their
present leader a word Of explanation
for the benefit OF thosa not familiar with
the restrictive bill H. question. which. as
one or its supporters says Merely aims
10 impose decent restraints upon those
engaged in 10 tvivisectiOn) and 10 enable
the Government 10 know precisely what
IS being done"
Concerning this much-needed measure.
the late DR.. William A. Hammond. form
eTly Surgeon General Of the United States
Army. and for some years practical eX-
perimeuter. said. L is admirable. 1t pro-
tects both the animal and-the human race.
and that is all that any reasonable person
can ask, whether vivisectionist or anti
YivisectiOnist
By this appeal from the President OF the
American Medical Association. are We TO
infer that the general pos itiOn OF the pro-
fessiOn TO which he belOngs has been
clearly defined II would indeed seem
that neither the biologist. nor the physi-
OiOgist nor the physician. wishes to abate
by one jOt or one little the full, un-
bridled license which in perfect secrecy
now holds uninterrupted sway They have
defined their position. and the thousand
medical men in our own country. and
still greater number on the other side OF
the water, have defined theirs by petition
for the total abolition OF a system which
s.--s seen called "Our meanest crime 2nd
which has been described BY many men.
eminent both in medicine and surgery, as
unnecessary, cruel. brutal. and mislead-
ing"
Dr. L. f. Rauterberg. in a communica-
tiOn dated 80 Fifth Street, Washington,
April -. lS96, stated 1T was my lot for
a number Of years to be engaged in The
microscopicaI division Of the Army Medi-
cal Museum. and I saw pracUced the most
inhuman and barbarOus mutilatiOns OF the
dumb animals. under the supervision, and
with the sanction Of the United States
officer in charge" (The shameful cruel
ties he describes are hardly suitable for
horrors he adds 'practiced openly with
sanction OF the United States medical Off
GERS, make me think that stringent laws
are needed 10 restrict such proceeding
II is just such atrocities. secretly prac-
ticed which the restrictive bill before
Congress aims at abating.
Just here IL IS not Inappropriate ais5 10
re>all the us Of a weIl-knOWu physi-
clan Unrestricted yivisecton Is "A dis
grace 10 the country allowing f." T.. Y.
New York Jan %