VIVISECTION.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 3

VIVISECTION.

OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL. DUNEDIN June 19 The question of vivesection was dealt with at the meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to-day by the chairman, Sir George Fenwick. He K said he had considered it would be advisable to let the public know the attitude of the society on the question, and with that object in view he had made a personal investigation.

Vivisection, even in its relation to research work of the medical profession, undertaken solely in the interests of the human race, was a matter on which” there would always be diversified opinion. It was desirable that the public should know exactly where the society stood with respect to the question, and especially in its relation to research work that had for some time been carried on in the local medical school.

This work had involved the use of monkeys and other animals in the experimental research work of the doctors who were engaged in this important branch of medical and surgical science. An investigation confirmed the belief he had formerly held that the treatment of the animals was of the most humane character. They were well housed and well fed, and under no circumstances whatever was an operation performed on them except under an anaesthetic. That was to say, they were treated exactly as human beings were when operations were accessary. So little were th.e after-effects of their wounds felt that they never interfered in the least with stiches or bandages. As to the importance of that work, there were few people in the community who would question it when it was known that it related to the causes and effects or infant:!’ 1 paralysis.