Evening star., 1953-11-21


If the farmer got by for century or
two without price supports, why can't
he do so now? Other businessmen sell
ing essentials to the public get along
without subsidies. The farmer and the
dairyman are the only ones who howl
for helps Suppose the other business
people did the same thing.
Dan B. Felker.
Animal Experimentation
Anticipating the public hearing be-
fore the Commissioners on December 4
concerning the disposal Of dogs and
other small animals. by the District
Pound, may I call attention to some OF
the beneficial results of animal expert
mentation? We have learned to repair
torn and otherwise injured nerves. ten
dons, blood vessels and bones. Skin
CRAFTS and transportation of parts OF
the body are possible. Heart and lung
surgery has been developed, and con-
genital deformities have been corrected.
Treatment has been developed Tor
burns, shock and gas poisoning. Brain
surgery is now possible. SerumS, anti
toxins and vaccines have been stand
ardized. VitaminS and hormoneS have
been developed. incubation OF monkeys
has allowed information about infan-
tile paralysis. Mice have taught US
much about cancer. Penicillin and the
sulfa drugs could not be used on man
until their effects were known on ami
mails. The effects of digitaliS, which is
so potent in heart disease, were learned
through studies on animals. More medi-
cal knowledge has been assembled dur
ing the last so years than the accumu-
lated knowledge assembled since the
world began. People live longer. and
are healthier because Of research,
which included much animal expert
mentation.
Doctors who devote their time to
animal experimentation are not mon
sters. They are educated, gentle. SYM
pathetic people, who are probably par
ents, and who have faithful dogs at
home, which they love. They take all
precautions against unnecessary pain,
and treat their animals with the same
consideration they show their patients.
Laboratory animals are housed and
fed. and bathed. and tenderly cared
for, and their lives in the laboratory
contrast sharply with their previous
existence, which was precarious, and
punctuated with hunger. fear, cold and
thirst, as they wandered from one alley
to the next, without homes.
All honor to the intelligent, kind
hearted well-meaning folks, who choose
for the dogs a small room, into which
they are forced until there are many
struggling, crying, frightened animals,
crowded within. There they wait for
the poison gas to slowly extinguish
their lives. Many thousand dogs are
treated this way every year in the
District The good citizens who make
this choice are misled by distorted
propaganda.
Who would not sacrifice dog, or a
hundred dogs, to save the life Of his
child, or another loved one?
James A. Cannon, M. d.
The question of requiring unclaimed
animals at the public dog pound to be
tai use is not one Of animals versus hui
mans or reason versus emotionalism. It
is rather a question Of the lack Of
proper laws safeguarding the expert
mental animal: the lack Of standards
in housing; poorly paid and Indifferent
attendants caring for the animals.
There is no legal restriction on the type
of research which may be performed
on an animal: no restriction on the
number OF tests or operations which
may be performed on an animal until
death releases it. An example of this
was disclosed in Time Magazine in re-
porting under Finance" the painful
research conducted on dogs and rabbits
for purely commercial purposes by one
of the large tobacco companies to quail
ify to use their slogan under the fair
trade practices that 'its cigarettes
were easy on the throat"
1t was stated in the paper that II
States now have pound seizure laws
II the laboratories are using the ami
mails properly why this constant cry for
more and more animals? Humane or
ganizations in the II States find that
the burden Of caring for unclaimed
pets falls heavier on them because
people generally call humane organiza-
tons rather than the public pound
when they feel the animals may end
in the laboratory.
Generally stray animals were pets.
They suffer great mental anguish being
confined for experimental use away
from the reinsurance and encourage
ment Of their owners. Before lobbying
further on pound seizure laws, the re-
search groups should establish criteria
in the care, maintenance and use Of
laboratory animals for their profession
and such standards should be approved
by the American Humane Association
and other organizations particularly in
terested in proper laboratory standards.
After all, animals have minds, nerves.
bones and tissues capable of being
hurt-like human beings; otherwise
their use would not be sought by the
laboratories in their attempt to propel
the human race toward eternal mortal
life.
Mrs. Paul M. Twyne,.
President, Animal Rescue League of
Arlington, Va.