The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-22
The Growing Revolt Against the Useless Crueie Of Vvisecto

:. Are they doing good honest work free from
unnecessary cruelty2
Why are they afraid to prove this II 1t be truef
Why do they not welcome the opportunity to
prove 1T
We do not object to scientific research. we do
object to any unnecessary cruelty abuse OF this
research and to the useless repetition Of the
same old painful experiments simply to illus
trate a lecture We object also to schooboy vivi-
section-although DR.. Coakley. Of the objec-
tors from New York. at one of these hearings
told the committee that he advocated vivisechon
by children-and vivisecton in back yards and
cellars. They say they will be accountable to no
one. they Will permit neither knowledge nor in
curry concerning this practice. They say 1t is and
snail remain open alike to the expert and the
incompetent. to the medical student, the hospital
inferno. the Quack and the charatan, and when
We say why must 1t rcman?' their answer.
their one argument appears to be you anti
vivisectonists." which statement say is false
hood.
They have admitted that there is often neces-
sary suffering in this practice. that there is in
tense suffering torture. hdeous suffering. but
necessary to true scientific research. This SUI
ferng is tustfable by law only when 1t can be
shown to be surrounded by every possible safe
guard against license abuse.
Is 1t SO surrounded by all who practice vivi-
section?
II so, let them prove the conditions. With
them rests the burden Of proof, because suffer-
ing is inherent in the practice. We have their
own admission Of necessary cruelty or suffering.
We say that the published records even Of the
Rockefeller Institute contain of suffering
planned use Of curare In vivisection. Is prima
facie proof Of abuse.
Is what they hide unnecessary cruelty OF SUI
ferng?
Why do they oppose It,
The medical journals. some OF their best and
greatest men, say that many Of the medical
schools grotesQuey feeble and fatuous. The
Board of Regents OF the State OF New York has
Just now refused license to practice medicine to
the graduates Of twentyfour of these schools.
We object to practice. necessary. difficult and
)ustihably painful. and in the sense cruel, being
open. as our law, or rather lack Of law. leaves
vivsecton open to every member of these and
other similarly Inadequate medical schools and
to every quack impostor holding medical
certificate In this entire State We ask informa-
tion as to the practice 1t is carried on in such
places and by such incompetents. They oppose
the giving OF any Information on this subject
Why do they oppose it?
That there is large amount OF this unprinci-
pied and untrustworthy animal experimentation
In the State Is evident from the fact that there
are for sale to the public with guarantee OF
vised by responsible druggists) between two, and
three thousand different kinds Of serums. each
claimed to be cure for different disease. and
each the result of animal experimentation. most
OF them in private laboratories and many OF them
by irresponsible or unprincipled vivisectors.
We are asking protection for the public against
such outrage Vivlsectors why do you unite
to oppose restrictions which merely aimed at
such abuse?
Once moro, gentlemen of the medical profess
sion why should you oppose the adoption here Of
something like tho English law? Surely England
the country of Charles Darwin, Thomas Huxley,
Tyndall and Lord Lister. four Of the greatest eN-
perts OF research OF the century-with its I'M
equaed pedlcal colleges and hospitals is far
superior to u.s. You sent for !, English surgeon.
Sir Frederick Haock. to study and advise how
to improve the disgraceful condition Of medical
education In America. Four times since 1890 the
100000 Nobel prize for distinguished dis
covery In research has been awarded to English
scientific and physicians in England-once
only In this country. and then this last year to
visiting Frenchman, DR.. Carrel For thirty
five years England has had reguatve law.
royal commission sitting for six years. after hear
ing all the testimony has recently upheld that
law England favors vvisection duly safeguarded
by law faithfully administered, and so do we.
Why should anyone oppose this law? What do
they fear? Loss of money, loss OF prestige?
Surely not loss OF opportunity for unnecessary
cruelty!
Against unnecessary cruelty and against un-
necessary abuse and nothing else we work. To
prevent this abuse and this cruelty ask the
Legislature to appoint commission to investf-
gate to the end that the truth may be made clear
and such abuse as may be found to be existing
may be corrected by reasonable laws which may
be recommended by the commission. We hope to
secure It. We hope that some OF the great halls
of the Rockefeller Institute may be opened for
its meetings and that DR.. FleXner other Of Its
staff may be members Of the commission. We
hone for honest men with to grind, no
facts to hide no money to secure. who will work
together for the public good, to take vivisection
out of the mire OF public distrust into which 1t
has fallen by It's abuse and to place 1t high among
the resources Of honorable scientific research.