A paper on “Vivisection,” was read by Dr. Mitchell Wilson
The Lecturer introduced the subject as one of interest to every Scientific Society, seeing that what he considered the misdirected efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had succeeded in obtaining an Act of Parliament to control, and nearly to prohibit, all experiments upon living animals. Statements had been made of the cruelty of such experiments, so greatly exaggerated that a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into the whole subject. That commission reported – “We have satisfaction in assuring your majesty that at the present time a general sentiment of humanity on this subject appeared to pervade all classes in this country, and that the principle is accepted by the very highly educated men whose lives are devoted either to scientific investigations and education, or to the investigation or removal of the suffering of their fellow creatures, that the infliction of unnecessary pain upon any animal deserves detestation and abhorrence.”
In spite of that acquittal an Act of Parliament has been passed which has already hindered some, and entirely prevented other scientific inquiries into the relation of disease, the action of drugs, and the search after antidotes to animal and vegetable poisons.
Examples were quoted of each of these investigations having been stopped or greatly hindered in this country, while foreign scientists are permitted to carry put their investigations with Parliamentary assistance, instead of severe and undeserved restrictions.
A few cases were quoted of advances previously made, mainly through experiments upon animals, such as: – Harvey and the Circulation of the Blood, Jno. Hunter in dealing with Aneurisms, Sir C. Bell’s discoveries of the Nerve Supply, Jenner, Lister, Pasteur, and Koch, and others whose work is likely to prove an incalculable blessing to themselves, and yet based upon experiments upon animals.
Dr. Wilson compared the present means of dealing with this great question, when compared with such cruel pursuits as Pigeon Shooting, Hare Coursing and the like, and concluded by asking if there is only a reasonable hope that pain can be relieved or life prolonged in the infliction of pain not then justified. There is no condition of man free from the inheritance of suffering, and our very existence, the comforts, the liberty, the safety we enjoy are gifts bestowed upon us through the suffering of our fellows, and should animals be hedged in through false feelings of humanity?