i88i.] VIVISECTION. 383 



were false. From all that I have heard, however, I fear that 

 in some parts of Europe little regard is paid to the sufferings 

 of animals, and if this be the case, I should be glad to hear of 

 legislation against inhumanity in any such country. On the 

 other hand, I know that physiology cannot possibly progress 

 except by means of experiments on living animals, and I 

 feel the deepest conviction that he who retards the progress 

 of physiology commits a crime against mankind. Any one 

 who remembers, as I can, the state of this science half a 

 century ago, must admit that it has made immense progress, 

 and it is now progressing at an ever-increasing rate. What 

 improvements in medical practice may be directly attributed 

 to physiological research is a question which can be properly 

 discussed only by those physiologists and medical practitioners 

 who have studied the history of their subjects ; but, as far as 

 I can learn, the benefits are already great. However this may 

 be, no one, unless he is grossly ignorant of what science has 

 done for mankind, can entertain any doubt of the incalculable 

 benefits which will hereafter be derived from physiology, not 

 only by man, but by the lower animals. Look for instance 

 at Pasteur's results in modifying the germs of the most 

 malignant diseases, from which, as it so happens, animals will 

 in the first place receive more relief than man. Let it be 

 remembered how many lives and what a fearful amount of 

 suffering have been saved by the knowledge gained of 

 parasitic worms through the experiments of Virchow and 

 others on living animals. In the future every one will be 

 astonished at the ingratitude shown, at least in England, to 

 these benefactors of mankind. As for myself, permit me to 

 assure you that I honour, and shall always honour, every one 

 who advances the noble science of physiology. 



Dear Sir, yours faithfully, 



Charles Darwin. 



[In the Times of the following day appeared a letter 

 headed " Mr. Darwin and Vivisection," signed by Miss 

 Frances Power Cobbe. To this my father replied in the 



