The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-03

President A. s. Pratt, of the Washington
Humane Society. has written TO the Com
missioners regarding the report OF the
Health officer on the anti-vivisection bill
which is now before Congress. Mr.. Pratt
states that the report of the Health Officer
is SO one-sided that it is not entitled TO
serious consideration in an impartial exam
/ ination of the measure to which it refers.
The various statements ma lie in the re-
port are not so astonishing Mr.. Pratt
states, when it is taken into consideration
that DR.. Woodward is champion oil unre-
stricted vivisection. but 1t Is an apparent
| attempt to mislead the Commissioners by
| reproducing objections to the bill, misrep-
reservations and ALL which were presented
to the Senate committee at great length,
all the arguments in which were exploded
in the reports Of the committee which we're
drawn up by Senator Gallinger, an expert
eneed physician and surgeon"
The President of the Humane Society ar
raigns the Health Officer aEt his report,
quoting certain passages in the document
which were emphasized. Continuing his
letter Mr.. Pratt states:
while il is not 10 be supposed that the
Commissioners, representing the whole
community, will accept these exploded OBJ
jections of the Health officer, representing
the virisectors, against a measure so ap-
proved by the Senate committee and en-
dorsed in a petition by scores Of the leading
citizens OF Washington, it seems to be nee
essary TO point out the more important
sophistries and misstatemepfs, in his re-
port because il has been given 10 the pub
lie.
in view OF the federation OF the false
statement, which has produced whatever
opposition has been manifested except by
the vivisectors themselves land chiefly
from persons outside the DISTRICT, that
the bill would prohibit vivisection, it must
once more be stated that tais is not true,
and that an impartial inspection of IL will
show that it would permit al, the vivisec-
lion that fits opponents viii admit - be
now carried on in the District Of Columbia
without change. while il would prevent
the atrocities which the Health Of1cer
confesses have been occasionally commit
ted" by yiyisectors. Ii permits, without
obstruction. any method OF experimental
ton upon living animals except such as are
distinctly useless, brutalizing. and cruel.
Yet as the Health officers report
shows, the vivisectors are opposed TO any
law on the subject, and their real asser-
ton is that they ought not to be brought
under the control OF law. They insist that
they ought to be excepted from the general
reign of law, and entrusted by the CON-
munity with absolute power over living
creatures. behind locked doors. free from
the inspection of the Government and from
the necessity of reporting upon their work
even though, as in most cases, they may be
doing ii in the offices of the Government.
These vivisectors ask us to believe, as
in .ba hat he
atrocities which have been occasionally
committed TO use his own phrase), are
not being committed in the District of
Columbia, and therefore that there is no
necessity for any law;to prevent them. and
then show the cloven hoof by objectine. as
the Health Officer docs twice in his report.
against the requirement of the bill that
the Commissioners may call for reports
from the vivisectors, that they would thus
be required to bear evidence against
themselves 20 quote his exact language.
We would like TO ask how man can bear
evidence against himself IL he is doing
only that which is lawful and good?"
II the ends could be obtained under gen.
eral laws. the writer continues, it is OBJ |
vious that the advocates of the bill would !
not have expended their dsinteresting eff
forts in pressing its passage. A petition |
has been sent 10 Congress. signed by a |
sional men of this city. requesting the i'm |
mediate passage OF the bill, Mr. Pratt |
states. and every effort is being made to |
effect its passage. In concluding his let /
ter President Pratt states that 1t had been |
developed before the Senate Committee on |
the District OF Columbia, that cruelties I
were being practiced on animals in the |
Army Medical Museum.
las the second Senate committee report |
l,sl, IL.
reason, other than mental alteration. |
could be assigned for the strenuous and |
unremitting exertluns that have been |
made, and the time that has been spent by |
busy men TO stir up every possible innu
ence to defeat the passage OF this bill.
They have admitted that the cruelties
against which the bill Is directed are |
wrong. They assert that they have them
selves nothing to conceal, yet they move
heaven and earth TO prevent legislation
intended merely 10 provide against such
cruelties and legalize The very inspection
Il. To- ,-.f. fs.,-s