HAROLD C. ERNST 175 



but that so far as painless, anesthetized experiments are 

 concerned he stood precisely where we do, as stated in 

 his own words, that they are " unobjectionable." 



No one has made an attack upon Dr. Bigelow's char- 

 acter as a man or upon his eminence as a surgeon ; it is 

 a fair example of false inference to suggest that such has 

 been the case. . 



It is perfectly possible to have, as we have !n this 

 instance, the highest regard and admiration for a man's 

 power and ability, but at the same time to be fully alive 

 to the possible existence of certain limitations. Such 

 limitations, of one sort or another, have existed in every 

 great man of whom history gives us cognizance --but 

 one. Fighting for Dr. Bigelow's reputation is an entirely 

 useless and unnecessary performance ; we grant and agree 

 to its deservedly widespread influence without the slightest 

 hesitation. 



If this bill be passed it may very seriously interfere with 

 the work carried on under the support of such a fund as 

 that concerned in the investigations on cancer now going 

 on, and of which the report I hold in my hand is the 

 first fruit. (Report submitted.) This report begins: 

 "Through the public-spirited and far-sighted generosity of 

 the late Caroline Brewer Croft, the Surgical Department 

 of the Harvard Medical School has been enabled to under- 

 take a systematic investigation into the origin of cancer." 



The experiments under way were first begun a little over 

 a year ago, and will be prosecuted until a successful ending 

 is reached ; when that may be no man can tell. But, in 

 the meantime, inoculation experiments, not bacteriological 

 in their nature, must be constantly carried on, and their 

 results must be watched for long periods of time. Some 

 of these may be done under anesthesia of course if 

 necessary they will be so carried out, but the killing of 

 the animal as it comes out of the anesthetic must render 



