Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-01
CASING OF DOGS
NOW OBJECTED TO
Appeal. for dumb Animals
Made by Washington Hu.
name Society.

through Its president, W. 8. HutchinS,
has asked the Secretary of War to d.
rect a discohtinuance of experiments
with lethal gases on dogs, goats and
other animals. and has also asked the
District Commissioners to order q dis.
continuance of the practice Of Furnish
/ ing impounded. dogs for use in these
experiments.
Throughout the war animals have
been "gassed" by the chemical war
fare division Of the Army at the Amer
lean University camp. Il has been
sought to produce gases Of the high
est death-dealing effect and about 500
dogs have been killed each month. This
work is proceeding now.
The practice Is to tie the aatmai0 to
stakes and fire gas shells among
them. Those most exposed to the gas
die in agony. but they die soon. Those
less exposed linger In The pangs OF
death. Those farthest from the e1-
fected and they are put uo6sr OBJ.
servation, notation being MADE OF
symptoms The practice Is to kill
these for dissection.
Letter to Secretary Of War.
Following is the letter sent by Mr..
Hutchins to the Secretary OF war:
November Is, 1913.
ITO the Secretary Of War. washington
"sir: The Washington Humane So
., ety has the honorto ask that you put
an end by formal order to the expert
ments on living animals Vow ana ior
many months past conducted by the
chemical warfare division OF the Army
at the American University camp, near
Washington.
has been to test various combinations
Of the poisonous gases. new and old.
used in modern warfare, and the lives
| Of eight hundred dogs and those OF
many other animals have been sacrt-
feed monthly in scientific endeavor to
protect our soldiers at the front
While the great end justified the
ever much all deplored the painful
suffering imposed upon the dumb
creatures who were daily led to the
sacrifice, but the necessity no longer
exists. J.
.aThe President has proclaimed, and
we all know. that the war is over and
our soldiers lives are no longer. IN
from deadly vapors. Being brave men,
they would be the first to ask that
helpless animals be spared from fur
Their needless torture on their account,
and in their absence and In their name
all humane organizations Of the coun-
try they have served so well request
| that you give the order which will
| close the torture chamber at home, as
warfare has ceased abroad.
! 'W. S. HUTcH1Ns,
| president"
Letter to D. c. Commissioners.
The following letter has been sent
to the District Commissioners:
November Is, 1918.
ITO the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, Washington,
| gentlemen: The Washington HUI
name Society makes formal request
| that you issue an order which will put
an immediate stop to the practsce OF
furnishing dogs from the city pound
the camp near the American Univer-
sity, conducted by the chemical war;
fare division Of the Army.
THAT dogs to the number OF fifty or
sixty monthly have been sent from
the pound to this camp for consid-
society from the first. in spite Of the
persistent denials Of the poundmaster
that single animal was disposed OF
in this way; but however much we
deplored the painful suffering imposed
upon the victims Of those experiments,
we felt that experiments were neces-
sary when the object in view was to
protect the lives Of our soldiers in
France. We could mako no protest
while the war was going on. but now
that we have the Presidents. word
that it is over we ask that you spare
all impounded. dogs from further need
less scientific torture.
1.-The lives of 800 dogs FURNISHED
! mostly by other cities, it is true, but
| Washington had her share) have been
destroyed monthly at the American
University camp, and a heacy toll in
addition has been taken of goats, rab-
bits and other animals. Many Of them
died a lingering death and in great
pain, but the end was considered to
justify the sacrifice. That end has
now been attained. Our soldiers
abroad are no longer exposed to the
deadly fumes from which science
strove to save them. and with peace
abroad cruelty should cease at home.
Respectfully.
''W. S.tHUTCHNS. =
president"