The Washington herald., 1911-01-15
VIvISECTION, THE BLACK ART

| English Authorities Claim More
! Harm Than Good Comes Of 1t.
Editor The Washington Herald:
| A specter stalks the land and casts its
shadow over the fairest scene This spec
ter is vivisection. and it is the purpose
of the Society for Humane Control OF
Vivisection to down it and Danish for
ever reckless, cruel methods which are a
disgrace to civilization.
! In a pamphlet by Hon. Stephen Cole
ridge published in 1908 in connection with
the National Administration Society Of
London, England. it Is spoken of as ~the
black art" After a careful enumeration
of the statistics covering definite period
of years obtained from the returns of the
registrar general in his Sixty-eighth re-
port, Mr. Coleridge says: THE registrar
general records his dispassionate facts
and proclaims to the world that wherever
the hand of the vKisector Is stretched
over a disease. there that disease in
creases its hold upon life and hurries
men faster to the tomb; and that when
, ever the sick ones of the earth have been
tended beyond the reach of the vivi-
sector. there. more and more, have the
raladies that afflict mankind yielded to
the ministrations of the kindly physician.
1t would seem. therefore. that the world
would be better had the vivisector never
been born. Held fast in a horrible fas-
cination, these carverS and delivers into
living dogs will not lift their eyes from
the trough that holds their mangled vic
tins and perceive that the dreadful work
with which they fill their days is repug
nant to every mortal and religious prin-
ciple. Nor will they permit themselves
to recognize that every noble science,
though it may tell us perhaps that heav-
en- is out of reach. yet assures us never
theless that it is good to look upon
This being true. the question arises,
What is to be done to bring about a re-
form? The answer is: Nothing more or
less than a national law, strictly en-
forced. for governmental control Of all
laboratories and vivisecting rooms,
whether they be in colleges, hospitals. o.
private sanatoriumS, such a law as Eng
land passed few years ago. under
which that country has reaped untold
benefits, with increased advantages to
science
Many of the leading professional and
scientific men Of the day openly denounce
the practice of vivisection upon the liv-
ing animal as both inhuman and unnec-
essary
The Washington Society for Humane
Control of Vivisection was organized
some two years ago. under the presi-
dency of Thomas Nelson Page. in CO.
operation with prominent men and wom-
Ell representative of every walk in life.
Great enthusiasm marked its incorpora-
ton, and Dr. Ernest Smith. one of the
most active members, preached stirring
sermon upon the responsibilities OF
mans dominion with the determina-
ton of arousing interest among church
members especially, and extending his
efforts to the influencing Of other resident
rectors in the same line, believing that
the betterment Of present conditions de-
pended mainly upon persistent effort by
the people in demanding legislation for
the permanent establishment of a system
of humane regulations that would en-
force the open door in every institution
in the country.
At a recent meeting of the society the
question as to the very best way Of Sc
curing this much-desired result was dis
cussed at length and an agreement
reached to push the matter through the
medium of press and pulpit
Were the true story of the atrocities
daily committed and permitted under our
very nose. through a mistaken belief in
its betterment Of human life. to be made
public the facts would be discredited.
Yet the society Is in possession Of first
hand information sufficient to stir up
such a protest that every Christian man
and woman would unite In an organized
effort for reform.
Not until legislative action be enforced
and inspectors appointed for humane
In the administering Of anes-
tlietics and the proper chloroforming OF
the unfortunate animals Sacrificed be-
fore restoration to consciousness may the
society hone for success or the. shadow
be lifted from the land.