Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
Mr.. A. S. Pratt in Response to the
Health Officer.
DISCUSSES ANFI-VIVISECfION Bill
Alleges Apparent Attempt. to-. Mis-;
lead the Commissioners.
THE ABSEN OF LAW

Mr. A. s. Pratt, the president of the
Washington Humane Society, has addressed
a communication to the District Commits
sioners relative to the report submitted to
them by the health officer Dr. VIM c.
Woodward, on Senate bill "a, known as the
anti-vivisection bin. Dr. Woodward's re-
port was published in The Star several days
ago, and Is characterized by Mr.. Pratt as
being 80 one-sided !. by his the health
oficer's) own admission that 1t is not en-
titled to your the Commssioners0 serious
consideration in an impartial examination
of the measure"
Mr.. Pratt continues as follows:
~ not unaware says the health
officer, that this report has every appear
ance of an argument against the bill to
which 1t refers. rather than statement of
its merits. This is not astonishing as
it would be il he had not been known as a
champion of unrestricted viviseetion This
explains an apparent attempt to mislead
the Commissioners by reproducing the OBJ
jeetions to the bill, Misrepresentation and
ALL presented at great length by the vivi-
sectors before the Senate committee the
District of Columbia, which has since ex-
pressed its opinion of them by twice unani-
ously"reporting In favor of the enactment
of the bill. The health officer has been
careful not to inform the Commissioners
that all his objections. are those Of more
distinguished opponents. of the measure
WHICH were: eApaofeA 81 Una ieporeS oL kAe
Senate committee: ydrswn by Senator CALM
ger OF. New HaIp4s5Iss, himself an eminent
and experienced physician.
49, 81; Alles<A1 Sophistrles. = -
while It. is as ss spese supposed that the
Commissioners. representing the whole
community, will sAcesps these exploded OBJ
jecrions of the healtB officer, representing
the vivfsectors. AGAINST a measure so APP
proved by the RSt H. COMMITTEES. and in
dorsed IN a petitiah bX Scores OF leading cit
liens Of Washington II seems to be neces-
sapSs to D sna in s spon
| because 1t has besh gfgsn to the public:
| statement. whleh shsys 'produeed Whatever
e ss Sssto has as ch ssssp srd by
persons outside ths, District, that the bill
| would prohibit HYIseStion, 1t must once
more be stated Eat fais Is not true, and
| that an impartial nspection of It will show
| its opponents will admit to be now carried
on in the District of Columbia without
| change. while 1t would prevent the atroci-
/ ties which the health officer confesses
| have been occasionally eemnltted's by Wv
1 sectors. 1t permits, without obstruction,
any method OF Experimentation upon living
/ animals except SUCH as are distinctly use
less. brutalizing and cruel: It was framed on
the most eminent apostle OF science now
living, and by great number OF American
physicians and surgeons, that the common
/ interests of humanity and science demand
| that vivisection should be brought under
| the direct. supervisors of the state
/ restricted by lawsto certain definite objects,
/ and surrounded by every possible safeguard
against license and abuse
i GeneraI Laws.
.ttIf,these ends could be obtained under
the general laws against cruelty to animals