El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-12
Senator Proposes
To Protect Dogs
From TorturerS
Bill Makes Vivisection OF
Man S Best Friend A
Legal Crime.

Washington, D. c.. July 12-Senator
Meyers. of Montana. has introduced a
bili in congress making it crime to
vivisect the dog. Thus has the an
Client feud between the medical pro-
fessior and the Observation-Disclosures at
last been carried into the highest
legislative body in the United States,
where there is now chance that 81
VIII be given the governmental stamp
Of approval or disapproval
The bill is backed not only by the
National Society for Humane Regula-
ton Of Yivisection. but by hundreds
Of dog lovers throughout the country,
VINO maintain that, while other ami
mails may be necessary TO the progress
OF medical science, the dog deserves
exemption.
Army Spares Them.
This point is not yielded by the op-
position however, as some OF the best
surgeons in the army assert that the
dog is indispensable if experimental
surgery is not 10 be handicapped. I'VE
don't use dogs in the army" explained
one authority in the surgeon generate
department the other day, but I can
tel you, as an individual surgeon,
that the vivisection Of dogs results in
the saving Of thousands of human
lives every year
Whatever may be the ultimate YER
dict as TO the dog martyrs. both sides
viii be given every opportunity to
present their claims. For the first
into the open and made national
Issue.
The Meyers bill provides as q pen
atty fine Of from 500 to $500. OF
IMPRISONMENT for from three months
10 a wear r.r hnfh for au1-oua rouxrfrf-
ed Of vivisecting a dog. The promot-
ers Of this legislation claim that the
dog deserves such protection as a re-
suit Of its splendid services in the
war This is their chief argument
and one which finds ready acceptance
among cur returning soldiers, who
are in particularly sentimental
frame of mind concerning the dog.
Indeed, there has been a strong al
tempt to raise 100000 for moHu-
ment in Washington 10 the dog. the
horse and the pigeon as a memorial
Of their services in the war. Those
who favor dog vivisection regard this
as robbing that friend OF man CT its
greatest opportunity OF usefulness.
Dog Brave Soldier.
A returning colonel who had an
opportunity 70 observe dogs in action
during the war, Is an enthusiastic
supporter OF both the Meyers bill and
the monument project He does not
wish to be quoted as the author OF
such an opinion, but he holds to the
belief that, as an animal, the dog
compares not unfavorably with man.
There were 1000 trained dogs in the
American army when he left II. he
says. some Of which had furnished
heroic inspiration 10 soldiers.
The dog as 2 soldier in battle IL
new" he says. "but il has
covered It with glory. We have al
ways fostered the idea that the train
Ing of an animal is a trick, but during
the war the dog was called upon TO /
use its intelligence and drilled JUST /
as are men The dog was taught 10
carry messages, on which sometimes I
depended the safety Of an army. and I;
through It all endured shell shock. in
somnia- paisey, gassed lungs, blind (
ness. deafness and other injuries as I
Died Tor conrades.
The colonel told story Of = dog
which gave its life to save 3 unit OF 4
American soldiers The incident hap /
1ened just before the signing OF the |
armistice A dog was sent to find a
unit Of American soldiers which had I
been cut off from the rest OF its d.
vision. With 4 wooden crate strapped 4
to It's back, it climbed out OF the /
American trenches and Travelled at top 4
who lmme diately opened fire upon It I
Il never warered in its course, how
sver, until It had reached its goal. i
wounded II died a few minutes later. 4
but It's work had been accomplished. I
From the crate on its back. the Amer !
can soliiers drew forth two pigeons. .
tied a message to .he.r legs and 4
turned them loose. The message
stated the location OF the unit and n 4
! compars lively short time reinforce
nsnts arrived to rescue it
Serves No Purpose.
Another argument promulgated BY I
The supporters OF the Meyers bill is 4
that the Sivisection OF dogs is en-
Irely unnecessary. According to Al I
1erI Payson Terhune, the writer, the 1
best physicians here and IN Europe !
have gone on record as denying that /
any genuine good has been achieved I
for science or for humanity by the 1
Of dogs
The fact that dog can survive for /
! certain number OF hours with its 1
spinal column extracted or its medula 4
0blongata removed" says Mr.. Ter
hume, has no bearing whatever on 4
any good TO the human race, but is
merely a matter Of morbid interest 10
sxperimeuters. Such needful bits Of
as have benefited the race
have been performed on guinea pigs.
-abbits and other animals than dogs