New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-09
FLEXNER PREDICTS
NEW CURE SOON
SAYS Preventative for lntantlle
Paralysis Has Been Found
Through ViviSeCtion.
TALKS AT ALBANY HEARING
The Friends and Foes Of Animal
Experimentation Have An
nual Field Day at
Albany.
~ Tol,sraph to The Tribure !

Albany. March S.-Dr Simon FleXner. d.
rector Of laboratories in the kockcie"r'
institute for Medical Research. in state
ment which he gave ont here this AFTER
noon. declared that a preventative for IN
fantile paralysis has been discovered al the
institute.
Through animal experimentation We al
ready have discovered how 10 prevent IN
FAINT paralysis. The achievement OF
cure" he said. Il may say cOnservauvely
is not far distant. provided obstructive
measures are not thrown in the paths OF
men who are working for tho solution OF
this and other great problems"
Dr. Flexner came TO Albany TO oppose at
4, hearing this afternoon before the Senate
Judiciary Committee the Pollock-Parker
and Bayne-Hoey anti-vivisection bills.
When the hearing was called to order by
Senator Baync. the committee room was
crowded by physicians. clersymen and the
representatives OF anti-vivisection and hui
name societies. including number OF
women. This is the third year that the
fisht for greater restrictions in the practice
81 animal experimentation has been
brought before the Legislature Those who
led in the opposition 10 the proposed leisis-
iation held that il would greatly interfere
with the advancement OF science, and II
was declared that untold human suffering
WAS at stake if either of these measures
we're enacted into law. II was denied that
the animals were subjected to any great
amount Of pain.
Among the opponents 10 the bills besides
Or Flcxner were D.. James Ewing pro-
fcssor Of pathology in the Cornell Medical
college; Or. W. Ii. Park. director OF lab
oratories in the New York city Board OF
Health. and Dr.. w Z. Cannon. professor
OF physiology in the Harvard Medical
College.
D.. Park cited The fact that through the
animal experimentation the proportion OF
deaths from diphtberia had been reduced
from 20 ont Of every 10000 persons in the
United States in ls94 10 10 in 1910.
Mrs Diana Belsis. Of New York; Dr.
Herbert Snow. cancer specialist. Of Lon
don. England. and ]. u. Meuiman. attJr-
rey for the New York society opposed 70
animal experimentation. were the principal
speakers in favor 3 She Paloc5-Parler
BIZ.
"All we want" said Nh Merriman. "is
tho privilege OF the open door. IL animal
experimentation is 10 be carried on We
wan. Il carried on only in regularly licensed
places and By regularly licensed prac-
iitioners We demand that the law stop
the cruelty practised on animals by medical
students in their own rooms, without
proper safeguards and to no useful end
whatever"
Or. Herbert Snow. in combating the ar
-uments in favor Of vivisection. declared
Re, as well as many other scientists abroad.
feiie,-ad that fho autifovin cure for diDh-
liberia was no cure and was founded on an
erroneous conclusion that thc disease was
caused by germs He said that tho state
lnents that viyisection had accomplished
any good were bubbles easily pricked.
Among the bubbles he included the Pasteur
cure for hydrOphobia. In answer to Ques-
ION by Or Seeley, Of the Assembly com
mittce. he said that he believed in the total
abolition Of vivisection as wholly useless.
TIE Bavue- Hoey bill. which the ant-vivi-
scctionists believe 70 be FAR too moderate.
had the support Of tie Society for the Pre-
vention for Cruelty TO Animals, the HU-
meme Society. the American Institute for
Social Service the Rochester Uumanc So
Ciety and others Among those who spoke
for II were Dr. Frederick p Beliamy, Will
lam 3 Ellison. Corner Corporation Counsel
OF New York; Henry Bergh, Alfred Wag-
staff the Rev DR.. James ". Eco0, George
J. Elliott. Jefferson Selieman ana General
Rush c. Hawkins. The bill provides for an
investigators commission anu is opposed
by the members Of the medical profession
because they think it VIII be only an en-
ierlng wedge for laws which will inter
fore with the experimentation they arc
carrying on.