VIVISECTION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19612, 7 May 1929, Page 14

VIVISECTION.

* GUINEA PIGS AT HOSPITAL. DISCUSSION AT S.P.C.A. Those who are familiar with the grounds of the Christchureh Hospital will easily bring to mind the long, low building in the south-west corner where the rabbits and guinea pigs, upon which experiments <are made, are housed. Last evening, Mr J. O. Jameson, chairman of the S.P.C.A., reported to the committee of the Society upon a visit he had made to the Hospital, in the company of the secretary and Mrs G. Connal, to inspect these animals, and to see under what conditions they live—or die. The Society have been discussing at length the matter of vivisection, the practice of making experimental operations upon living animals, and it was decided to make certain whether surgeons at the Christchureh Hospital carried out these operations upon the rabbits and pigs which are kept in the grounds there. Mr Jameson said that Dr. Pearson had definitely stated that vivisection was not carried out at the hospital. "Patients may bring in swabs to be tested, either for diphtheria, consumption, or ohter diseases," said Mr J.iineson. "The rabbits are inoculated with the germs from these swabs, and it is discovered just what the disease is. When a rabbit contracts diphtheria it usually dies within twelve hours. When it contracts consumption it is painlessly killed with ether. There is no craeltV at all, it is entirely painless." * Mr Northeote: Under what conditions do thev live! Mr Jameson: The housing is quite satisfactory—they might possibly be given a little more space. Otherwise everything is in excellent order. | The committee expressed pleasure at ; Mr Jameson's report. j