WILLIAM TOWNSEND PORTER IOI 



present, they seek now an entering wedge. But upon what 

 evidence do they assert that the present stringent law 

 against cruelty to animals cannot prevent or punish the 

 imagined cruelties of university professors? The law has 

 not been tested. The men charged with " atrocities " have 

 not been prosecuted. The plain truth is that you cannot 

 prosecute without evidence - - upon mere suspicion. 



The most moderate legislation proposed by the peti- 

 tioners demands (i) that animals shall be anesthetized 

 throughout experiments which may cause pain; (2) that 

 such animals shall be killed at the close of the experiment 

 while still under the influence of the anesthetic; and (3) 

 that the agents of any incorporated society for the preven- 

 tion of cruelty to animals shall be at all times permitted to 

 enter any place where such experiments are performed, in 

 order that they may determine and report whether the 

 experiments are humanely conducted. 



The petitioners ask, therefore, that experiments in med- 

 icine and other biological sciences be placed under the 

 supervision of the authorized agents of any humane society 

 now existing or hereafter incorporated. Such a request is 

 based upon the assumption that supervision exercised by 

 these societies through their agents will prevent the cruel- 

 ties which the petitioners believe to be now practised in 

 spite of the existing supervision by college faculties and 

 governing boards. This extraordinary assumption rests 

 upon the further assumption that the humane societies are 

 competent to pronounce upon the value of medical research 

 and upon the technical details by which it is carried on. 



The bills which the petitioners have presented have been 

 discussed at great length before the committees of three 

 legislatures. The petitioners are therefore well acquainted 

 with their subject. The earlier bills were drawn with an 

 ignorance of animal experimentation remarkable in per- 

 sons so ready to assume such grave responsibilities. But 



