76 ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION 



theirs, for it does not stop short with the lower animals, but 

 extends itself over the human race, and, where the good of 

 humanity requires it, we claim the right to sacrifice animal 

 life, of course with as little suffering as is consistent with 

 the object to be attained. 



Of the necessity for such experiments and of the amount 

 of suffering they involve we claim to be the best judges, for 

 the study of such questions is the business of our lives. 



It would be perfectly possible for me, Mr. Chairman, to 

 bring before you a frog which would present all the exter- 

 nal signs of suffering excruciating pain, but I should know, 

 and every medical student who had studied the subject 

 would know, that the animal could not possibly be suffering 

 any pain at all. Of how much value under such circum- 

 stances would be the testimony of the agents of the Society 

 for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals? 



The attitude of the medical profession on this question 

 is perhaps best shown by resolutions passed in 1892 by the 

 councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society and by 

 the society itself in response to a letter from the Massa- 

 chusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 

 and reaffirmed in 1896. They are as follows: 



" Whereas, The Massachusetts Society for the Pre- 

 vention of Cruelty to Animals has asked for some 

 official action on the part of the Massachusetts Medi- 

 cal Society in the form of a resolution, or otherwise, 

 as to whether in their judgment, any law, and if so, 

 what law should be enacted by our legislature to re- 

 strain or limit the practice of vivisection by physicians, 

 medical or other students, or pupils in medical or 

 other colleges or schools, 



" 7/r;v/o;r, Resolved, 



" I. That the Councillors arc not aware that vivi- 

 sections are practised in this State in an unnecessary 

 or cruel manner. 



