BATTERSEA'S "BROWN DOG."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14757, 14 February 1910, Page 5

BATTERSEA'S "BROWN DOG."

TO BE, RETURNED TO THE DONORS. AN EXPENSIVE* STATUE. Ptdis Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. LONDON, February 11.. , The Battcmea Borough Council has decided to return to the donors the "Drown Dog", anti-vivisection statue, after it has been watched night and day for several years. ' ! Tho' ultimate of the notorious " Brown Dog " anti-vivisection memorial, which was accepted .by the Battorsca. Borough Council in 1806.and ereoted in the Latchmcrc Estate Recreation Ground, was discussed with much interest in Daoembw ■ last. The Highways and Dust Committee of tlio. council-brought forward a , recommendation that negotiations »be opened for tho return of tho memorial to tho donors on the ground that it involved considerable expenditure on police supervision and caused an obstruction in what is now practically a public highway. But it was thon.b; no means certain that tho donors, tho International Anti-Vivisection Council, would agrco to take back their gift. Miss Lind-af-Hagcby, a member of tho council, said to a representative of the Daily Mail: "My strong personal view is that, as the memorial was accepted by the BatterseaCouncil in 1906, we 6hould now refuse to take- it back, and leave the onus of its disposal to tho present representatives of Battersea." "There is this-to be said for thc_ retention of tho statue on its present site," said Miss t Hageby; "Battersea 'is the most anti-vivisectionUt borough in W;«>i.. ft supports ah anti-vivisection hospital, and I believe that the monument is popular with the inhabitants generally, and that they would bo against its removal." "

■ The inscription on) the effigy, which has led to numerous riots and disturbances bv incensed medical stuaonts, is as follows:—

In memory of tho Brown Terrier Dog done to death in tho laboratories of University College in February, 1903, after having endured vivisection extending over moro than two months and having been handed over from one viviscetor to another, until death came to his release. Also in memory of the 232 dogs vivisected in the same placo during the year 1902. Men and women-of England, how long shall these things be?

The statue has not only been the most keenly discussed monument in London in lecont years, but far mid away the most expensive to guard. Early in 1903 the Uicf Commissioner of Police wrote to the borough council pointing out that the cost to tho pohco of guarding the statue owing to .the students' demonstrations amounted to about £700 a-ycar. At this rate the S2,r, J- . ratc Piyers is something like £2000. INightand day constables have been on dmy, and sentry-boxes have had to be erected for the conveniftnee of the watching officer.-?.

Tlu Mayor of Battersea (Mr P. P. Hay. thorntliwaite), speaking to a representative or tho Daily Mail, said:-"The first idea was to ask for tha inscription to be altered, but wo saw that, even in that ease, the statue would still be objectionable to some people, and that the better course would be to hand it back to the people who gave it to us."

An eminent member of the medical profession suggested that whorevcr, the dog may bo next set up it should bear the following as a true, inscription: "This dog ivas submitted under.profound anaesthesia to a very slight l operation in the interests of science. In two or three days it was healed, and remained perfectly well and free of all pain. Two months later it was again placed under profound anesthesia for further experiment, and was killed under tho a-najsthotio. It knew nothing of what was bein" done to it on either occasion. None of "us can count on so easy a.death. We doubtless shall suncr pain or distress, both mental and physical. This dog was free alike from .fear and sufforing. It died neither of starvation nor of' overfeEdiiis;, nor of burdens from old ago. It just died in ita sleep.