VIVISECTION

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 14

VIVISECTION

IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY / At a meeting of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, held yesterday afternoon the vivisection and treatment of monkeys at the local Medical School was thoroughly discussed. Letters were received in reference to this matter from Mr John Tapsou. Ho expressed the opinion that it was absolutely erne) to allow animals to bo tortured alive by university students in the name of research work. Ho considered that it was impossible to pump germs of disease from a human body into a monkey or any other animal without causing pain to an animal that could not protect itself. Sir George Fenwick said that he had made a careful examination of the matter. Infantile paralysis, a malady which was being fought by means of such experimenting, was a dire disease, and, in the name of humanity and child welfare, the work was justified. Moreover, he was perfectly satisfied that none of the alleged cruelty was going on. “ The question of vivisection, even in its applicability to the research work of tho medical profession—work undertaken solely in the interests of the human race—is one on which _ there will always be a diversified opinion,” continued Sir George, after tbo matter had been discussed. “The strength of public opinion on tho subject should, in my judgment, remain, as I believe it unquestionably docs at present, strongly on the side of the professional belief that the welfare of tho race must be first considered. _ 1 am well aware that the Anti-Vivisection Society in England is well supported, and that it has been tho means of arousing a strong public feeling against tho practice, and of scouring the passing of restrictive legislation under which protection to a certain extent is afforded to tho lower creation.

“I very heartily support legislation of the hind, as all lovers of animals must do—as indeed must everyone who abhors the infliction of unnecessary pain on the dumb creation. lam led to make these remarks because of the letters which have just been -read and of correspondence that has appeared in the local Press. It is desirable that the public should know exactly where our society stands with respect to- the question, and especially in its relation to the research work that has for some time past been earned on in our local Medical School. Tills work has involved tho use of monkeys and other animals in tho experimental research work of the doctors who arc engaged in this important branch of medical and surgical science. “ On receipt of Mr Tapson's letter, I asked our inspector to investigate and report on tho methods adopted by tho doctors who carry out the experiments. Mr Snowball was also good enough to make tho necessary inquiries. and to make our inquiries complete I personally interviewed one _of tho medical men, especially in relation to tho treatment of the monkeys under their charge. The result of thoso inquiries confirms tho belief 1 formerly held, that the treatment of tho animals is of tho most humane character. They aro well housed, well fed,_ and under no circumstances whatever is any operation performed on them except under an amesthctic—that is to say. they are treated exactly as human beings are when operations are necessary. “ Further, we have tho assurance that so carefully aro tho monkeys looked after when being operated on and afterwards, that they are not infrequently to be found eating an orange or a banana half an hour after tho operation, with the additional reassuring circumstance that so littlo aro the after-effects of their wounds felt that they never interfere in the least with stitches or bandages. This statement I make will, I trust, completely dispose. of any doubt that may have existed in the minds of the public as to the treatment of animals used for research work in our local Medical School. As to the importance of that work, there are few people in our community who would question it when it is known that it relates to the causes and effects of infantile paralysis, that dread affliction that has in many cases tho effect of cruelly spoiling tho lives of many of our children, and in all cases is more or loss pathetic in its action.

“It is, perhaps, unnecessary that I should say anything further on tho subject to-day, beyond suggesting that we "should pass a motion somewhat to the effect that the committee of tho society, having investigated the methods of our medical men who aro engaged in research work that involves operative experiments on animals, is satisfied that anaesthetics are invariably used when the animals are under operative treatment, and that they aro otherwise humanely cared for. It was moved by Mr Snowball, seconded by Mr Elliott, and carried unanimously that the committee was in accordance with the views of Sir George Fenwick.