VIVISECTION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 171 



is destroyed, they cease. 5. A cat is etherized, inhaling the anaesthetic slowly 

 and without apparent discomfort in a glass hox made for the purpose. The 

 trachea is opened, and a glass tube inserted. This is then connected with a 

 U-shaped tube partly filled with a colored liquid ; the effect of the respiratory 

 movements in expanding the lungs is shown by the oscillation of the liquid. 

 6. With an etherized cat the trachea is connected with a pair of bellows. The 

 medulla is cut and the lungs are artificially inflated with the bellows. In this 

 way the heart is kept beating while the entire ventral wall of the chest is re- 

 moved and the heart exposed to view. If removed from the body, the heart 

 soon ceases to beat. 7. With a cat, anaesthetized and then pithed, the respira- 

 tory muscles are stimulated directly or through their nerves. 8. From an anaes- 

 thetized frog the cerebral hemispheres are removed. After recovering from the 

 operation, such a frog may remain for weeks in a stupid condition, neither 

 moving nor feeding voluntarily, although it can swim, balance itself on the edge 

 of a board, and swallow food placed in the throat. It thus approximately exem- 

 plifies the life of some idiots. 9. A cat is etherized, and part of the right hemi- 

 sphere exposed. A light interrupted current of electricity is applied to certain 

 spots, and the invariable response is by definite movements of the limbs of the 

 opposite side. Other regions give no response at all. 10. With an etherized 

 cat the vagus nerves are exposed in the neck. A large needle, with a head of 

 red wax, is passed through the skin and muscles, so that its point is fixed in the 

 heart, the pulsations of which are then indicated by the oscillations of the head. 

 When a somewhat strong interrupted current of electricity is sent through one 

 or both of the nerves, the heart beats more slowly, or stops altogether. The 

 current is stopped, and the pulsations recommence. The nerves are then cut, 

 and the heart beats more rapidly, but the respiratory movements are slowed. 

 In this, as in all other experiments under anaesthetics, the animal is killed 

 before revival. 



The significance of these and similar experiments may be ascer- 

 tained from any physiological treatise or well-educated physician. 

 Only the first and the last can be commented on here. Cilia are mi- 

 nute filaments of protoplasm which, among other localities, cover the 

 surface of the membrane which lines the air-passages. Independently 

 of the will they keep up a rapid lashing movement, more forcible in 

 one direction, so that the dust inhaled with the air is continually 

 swept from the smaller tubes into the larger, and so to the larynx, 

 whence it is voluntarily expelled. If we reflect upon the inevitable 

 consequences of a vacation, or " strike," of these millions of irresponsi- 

 ble " sweeps," we shall feel it well worth while to inform ourselves as 

 to their appearance and mode of action, even though the acquisition 

 of this knowledge costs the lives of many frogs. The last experiment 

 affords some clew to the nervous mechanism through which the action 

 of the heart may be accelerated or retarded, or wholly checked on ac- 

 count of violent physical or mental impressions. Who that has felt 

 his heart " flutter," or " stand still," would not, even in a slight de- 

 gree, fathom the mystery which still surrounds the relations of our 

 bodily organs to each other and to the mind ? 



Those who denounce all vivisection as " barbarous " are asked to 



