Evening star., 1953-11-28
Experimental Animals

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to the vivisectors should be fought
by all people who have ever known
the loyalty and nobility of dog
ApologiSts for experimentation on
live animals point to the progress made
by medical science through such me-
dium. but most of this progress is fic-
titious. Today, as in Napoleons time,
doctors still cannot cure cold In
many countries doctors are becoming
increasingly doubtful as to the advisa-
bility of using animals to study the
diseases of humans.
Science should get off it's pedestal.
A look about the world in its disorder
and misery would indicate that perhaps
science" has been a false Messiah.
If these experimenters want to aid
humanity so much, let them prove
their zeal by offering their own bodies.
G. M.
I question the motives of person
who prefers to send an unclaimed mon
grel to the gas chamber of the pound
rather than allow humane research to
use the animal in project designed to
save human life. Can a reasonable
person believe the surgeon who has
thus perfected the technic of delicate
heart surgery is vicious torturer as
the -viviSectioniStS would have us
believe? Does the parent of little
'blue baby" whose life the surgeon has
saved believe such statements? What
forces of SadiSm and human hatred
permeate these people who make such
unreasonable claims?
Roland Bieren, M. d.
The benefits" medicine has received
through this experimentation are small
compared to the eXcruciating agonieS
these poor dumb creatures go through.
have seen some pictures of the things
done to laboratory animals that were
too horrible for words, and I urge any
one who has any love for animals to
oppose this proposed legislation.
Animal Lover.
I have read with horror and sadness
the letter in The Star of November 81
from James A. Cannon, NJ D. on the
subject of using pound animals for
medical experimentation. But such a
letter is no surprise to any one who
actively opposes vivisection, since there
always have been that kind of letters
from the medical profession, as soon
as the question is raised of limiting the
supply of experimental animals.
There have also been a few coura-
geous physicians who have dared to
tell the truth about animal experiment
tation. would like to quote just three
of these. Dr. George Wilson, prominent
British physician: II accuse my pro-
fesSion of misleading the public as to
the cruelties and horrors which are
perpetrated on animal life" Dr. Henry
j. Bigelow, late professor of surgery
at Harvard Medical School: There
will come time when the world will
look back to modern vivisection in the
name of science as they do now to
burning at the stake in the name of
religion" DR.. j. Howard Crum, New
York City: Il believe, and firmly be-
lieVe, that no good has been accom-
plished by vivisection of dogs that could
not have been secured by less cruel
methods. The story of vivisection is not
a pretty one; it is, in fact, a sordid
episode in the history of medicine and
is contrary to all our human concepts
of decency." Md.
The pound for which we are taxed
was established as a humanitarian in
Stitution to protect lost, strayed and
homeless creatures not to have them
subjected to tortures far worse than
death, in the name of medical science"
Some will say Would you not rather
sacrifice lower animal than sacrifice
child to disease and death?"
would not trust a medical practi-
toner, who is capable of inflicting hid
eouS crueltieS on defenSelesS creatures,
to even touch my child.
Mrs. Charles Edward Russell.
deplore the necessity of animal
experimentation but should vote for
the release of pound animals to the
medical schools if I were reassured on
the following points:
l. Would the medical profession be
ready to adopt the regulations of the
Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876 which
controls vivisection in the United King
dom? The major points are: Expert
ments must be for advancement of
knowledge and performed by licensed
person; animals must be anaesthetized
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continue after experiment, the animal
must be killed while under anaesthetic;
experiments must not be performed for
demonstration purposes, or for the pur-
pose of attaining manual skill.
2. Are proven experiments repeated?
Would the medical profession be willing
to record such experiments, already
proved. on moving pictures for instruc-
ton of students?
3. Would manual dexterity be ac-
quired only by operating on dead ami
mails furnished by the pound?
A. Would the medical profession join
with the humane societies in requesting
the fee for pound dogs be increased to
SO and cats to So? These funds would
be allocated to the Washington Humane
Society, which by act of Congress has
power to investigate and prosecute.
These funds would pay the salary of
veterinarian inspector, under the direc-