WILLIAM TOWNSEND PORTER 1 03 



severed nerves, the recovery from loss of blood, the re- 

 moval of portions of the brain to determine how much the 

 surgeon may safely take away when he operates for tumor 

 or abscess, and many other studies indispensable to the 

 progress of medical science. 



Probably the framers of the proposed legislation wished 

 that investigation of the action of remedies should continue. 

 The ignorance with which their proposals are made is 

 again shown here. The action of drugs cannot be studied 

 without connecting the blood-vessels or other parts of the 

 body with recording apparatus. An operation is usually 

 necessary. This operation is performed under the influ- 

 ence of anesthetics, which must then as a rule be discon- 

 tinued in order that their influence upon the heart and 

 other organs shall not conceal or distort the effect of the 

 drug which is being investigated. It has already been 

 pointed out that the suspension of the anesthetic at this 

 point causes little or no suffering; but the petitioners 

 demand that the anesthetic be continued throughout the 

 experiment. 



But why continue this catalogue of blunders ! Shall we 

 place in ignorant hands the control of researches which 

 lessen pain and lengthen life, or shall we leave with experts 

 that which is their province? 



If such mistakes are made by the most instructed of the 

 petitioners those who framed the proposed legislation - 

 what may be expected from persons who can be persuaded 

 to become agents for the enforcement of this legislation? 

 What man with sufficient character and expert knowledge 

 to justify his appointment will consent to burst into the 

 private laboratory of the medical investigator in order to 

 surprise him at his experiments? Imagine the professor 

 at his task. He is studying, the effect of a new remedy. 

 Can this drug be given safely to patients with weak 

 hearts? The heart of the animal is beating in the opened 



