The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-14
HUMANE SOCIETIES.
 PLAN ID INSPECT. .b|G LABORATORIES.
Visitors to Be Admitted When Operations Are Performed Upon Animals, Scient-
 istS Agree
BxAssocinted Press

New YOrk, May l3.--An open door policy In the laboratories of medical research where experiments are com ducted on animals has been an- nounced by Miss Maude Phillips, of Springfield. Mass. Miss Phillips said that this was the first public decia- ration of this principle that has ever been made in the United States and that the Blue Cross society Is the first humane society to cooperate actively with scientists as a body in behalf of animal protection in medt- cal research.
 Miss Phillips announcement pre- ceded signed statements by the df- rectors and deans of a large number of the S6 laboratories where experi- ments are made on animals declaring their willingness to admit members or officials of humane societies so that these may acquaint themselves with the actual conditions under which animal experimentation Is be- ing conducted.
 In several instances the proviso was made that visitors should have previously observed an operation on a human being so that they would be able to appreciate the humaneness of laboratory methods.
 A number of the deans and direc-
 
 has long been their custom to admit to their laboratories as visitors re- sponsible persons who are interested in learning about the methods used in advancing medicine by experiments on lower animals.
 Investigate Laboratories
 In her announcement Miss Phillips says humane societies can send their officials at any time to investigate the laboratories of medical research just as they would any place where animals are used or employed. She added:
 Thus a new epoch begins in the relations between organized humane ness and scientific research with anil mals, and from now on. criticism of its activities in the past. so far as this country Is concerned, would be unreasonable and superfluous
 Having referred to the insinuations and suggestions that secret cruelties were perpetrated on animals within alleged locked doors and padded walls, Miss Phillips said:
 Now that every door of every laboratory is unquestionably open to the public via its humane represen- tatives. not alleged but actual facts of the present only will count.
 such guaranteed publicity on the part of the scientists clearly brings their activities in animal experimen- tation within the same reach of stat utory law as are other activities in which animals are concerned and. from now on. the public may rightly demand of it's humane societies that they shall shoulder the responsibiiity of keeping an eye on scienfic re- search"
 She explained that her statement was issued mot in a spirit of parti- sanship but from the profound reali- zation of the need of a better under standing by the public of the activ- ities of animal experimentation as they are being exercised at the pres ent time in the United States. She predicted that public declaration of the open door to officials of humane societies would be received by vivi- sectionists and anti-vivisectionist sts with not little astonisnment"
 She made. public the code of regu : lation adopted in 1919 and posted in every laboratory of medical research in the United States which provides rules under which experiments on animals may be made