Experiments using animals

Press, 10 August 1982, Page 22

Experiments using animals

Sir,—Let me clear W C. Clark’s confusion. Clearly, h<* is saying (August- 5) experiments on animals, for scientific or medical purposes are acceptable; to quote "when their goal

is prevention of suffering.” Whose suffering? Not the animals. His confusion lies in the distinction between suffering — human or animal. Behind the words “careful ethical experiments" which this correspondent obviously considers necessary, lurks the dreadful and ghastly realities of which he, it appears, knows, little. To clarify further, anti-vivesectors i.e. concerned people, believe all animal experiments causing suffering, for whatever motive, to be totally unacceptable when there are viable alternatives. To suggest otherwise is absurd, or perhaps merely an attempt to cloud the issue.Equally abhorrent are the many other cruel practices so graphically described by W. C. Clark. But take for instance, the might of the farming and meat industry, where do the few start to change the attitudes of the many?—Yours; etc.. W. ROSS. August 6, 1982.