VIVISECTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 5

VIVISECTION.

MORALLY JUSTIFIED.

ROYAL COMMISSION'S FINDING.

Bj TelccriDli— Pc«n Aeeoclatlon-OeDyrlßhl London, March 12. The Knyol Commission on vivisection reports that experiments on animals witK adequate safeguards, are morally justifiable and ought not to be prohibited. The report adds a number of rnconv mendntions with the object of strengthen* ing existing safeguards', FOKHCAisT 01 , THE KKPOItT. T, lle ," stj JV ,nr, 1 1 ''" writing in November, saici:~i.ii(< KoyaL Commission on VivisccI inn has it is understood, now decided on the general lerms of its final report. It has been suggested that (here was a division of opinion among the Coimuissioners, but this, it is believed, will bo found not to have been the case. Originally the commission was appointed to inquire into iiiul rep-irt upon tho practice, of subjecting live animals to experiments whether hy vivisection or otherwise, and also to inquire into the law relating lo that practice and its administratKm'and to report whether any and, if so, what changes were desirable. Lord Kelby was its first chair, man, and niter his death Mr. A, J. Ram, K.(.'., occupied this position. The report (continued the "Standard")' will probably be something of a disappointment to the nnti-vivisecl.ionists. la respect of (he. various matters referred to them, the commissioners, it: is understood, have eomu (o the conclusion that Hie present system dealing, with* viviseclon, although open to adverse criticism, lias nevertheless been to worked as to secure large protection to animals subjected to experiment and nt tho same time so as not (o hamper or impede research. Tho commissioners hold' that such a system to which all parties affected have by long experience liecoino habituated ought not, notwithstanding its imperlections (o he lightly abandoned. It is expected that the report will also express the belief that the present svslein is capable of inipi-jvement and will contain several recommendations calculated to secure the objects aimed at by the existing law. The report is now in course of signature, and will be presented to I'nrliiiinewt nt the earliest possible, opportunity. Tho number of persons in Great Britain licensed to perform experiments on liviiiff animals, was, in 1910, 512, 117 of whom carried out no experiments. The total number of experiments was 515.731, showing an increase of !)154 over the previous year. Of these J!I3!I involved a more or less serious operation performed under anaesthetics. The remaining 90,792 were inoculations, hypodermic injections, feeding experiments; mi it are certified to bo such as are attended hy no Serious pain. In the event of pain ensuing on inoculation, the regulations demand that the animal shall be killed undo? anaesthetics as poon as the 'main result of the experiment has been attained. Investigilions into tho cause of cancer are responsible, for ■M.filii experiments, of which 81G fell in the. category requiring the administration of anaesthetics.! Tho greater number were on mice, 8000 experiments were mado in connection with the pieparntion and anti-toxic s?rn and vaccines, and for the testing ami fitamlardiv ing of drills. The 4,939 operations under anaesthetioe were distributed as follow:— (1) 29!2 carried out under the provision of the Act which requires that: a sufficient anaesthetic should bw administered to prevent any sensation of pain, and if Urn pain is likely to continue lifter tho effect of the, anaesthetic has ceased, or if serious injury is inflicted, tho animal must be killed before it recovers from the inljucncn of the anaesthetic; (2) 224. experiments under the conditions above in illustration of lectures; (3) 1997 under a cerificatn which exempts from the obligation ;to kill the animal before recovery from the anaesthetic; of these, 232 required the special certificate insisted ou when the animal is a cat or a dog.