The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
OFFER CONVICTS
UP TO SCIENCE
WOMANS PLEA
New York Corrections Com
missioner Favors Expert
ments on Condemned.
BUT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL
So Thinks Miss Katherine B.
Davis, of New York
Institution.
DOES NOT FAVOR VTVISECTION
Suggests Experimental Work in Viru-
lent Diseases Means Of
Expiating Crime.
BUT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL
DOES NOT FAVOR VIVISEcTI0N

Special TO The Washington Herald. q
New York, Dec. THE most advanced
attitude on the question whether or not
a convict should be allowed to give him
self to science for experimental work In
| virulent diseases has been taken by Com
missioner Of Correction Katharine b.
Davis and is vigorously defended by her.
Miss Davis is opposed to capital pun
| ishment. But as long as we have capi-
tai punishment Miss Davis holds that the
condemned ought to have a chance under
l the law to offer himself for scientific
| experimentation. She sees no reason why
q very careful and Just sort Of bargain
should not be struck by the condemned
man and the State. Depending on the
nature OF the crime the condemned man
would be awarded by the Communication of
his death sentence to life Imprisonment
or to a period of years.
Looking at the matter from hu-
manitarian point of view." said Miss
Davis. 81 think that great problems
might be solved through, society's
availing itself of such offers IL there
were many. do not know what could
be accomplished by experimenting on
one man. l am considering the matter
not from the legal or medical point of
view. but from the humanitarian.
strictly. Great good. l believe. could
be accomplished. and of course I
think that such experimenting should
be done only when there is a practical
assurance of some important scientific
gain.
Expects Big Protest.
81 believe a man should be allowed to
eXpiate his crime in such a way. 1
know there would probably be legal en-
tanglements. l am not looking to that.
The lawyers will do it. Everything is
tied up with legal restrictions. Some
things have to be, and. of course. moth
ing would need more careful safeguard
ing than the rights of prisoners II the
law / suggest were in effect There
might be attempts at undue pressure.
The prisoner should be guarded against
such pressure. He should be person of
normal mind, capable OF fully realizing
the results Of the experimentation. and
the full extent of these results should
certainly be explained to him vividly
and specifically.
Much Could BE Learned.
From what know Of medical condI-
tions by experience and acquaintance
among the profession I am convinced
that from humane experimentation much
would be learned IL for no other reason
than that the action OF toxins and Sc
runs in course OF preparation may have
very different effects upon the human
body than on that of animals.
The details OF any such plan as this
would have to be worked out carefully
and its dangers foreseen. There would
be some very Grave dangers. But am
convinced the plan ought to be worked
out
Doesn't Mean VivisectIon.
There is no reason that can see for
restricting this right of giving oneself
up for experimenting to prisoners con-
demned to death. Other prisoners-shert-
er term men as well as life term men
might be allowed to do II. / do not mean
that We should move toward human
vivisection. ! am thinking of prisoners
who have actually repented and who
would be seeking as much to expiate
crime as to get the reward of freedom
or shortened sentence Especial care
would have to be taken in the case OF
any man suspected of insanity or one
whose plea Of insanity had determined
his punishment"