ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION 55 



WHAT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION" HAS DONE FOR 



CHILDREN 



By henry dwight chapin, m.d. 



NEW YOEK 



THE rich contribution that animal experimentation has yielded to 

 the direct, curative treatment of disease is well known to all edu- 

 cated physicians. The lay public, however, seem to be insufficiently in- 

 formed as to the many benefits that have been derived from this method 

 of scientific investigation. If so, they would give little heed to the 

 false statements and hysterical imaginings that are periodically given 

 out by small but vociferous opponents of this beneficent work. If the 

 public once clearly understands that helpless, suffering children will be 

 the class to suffer most, a positive and instant check will be adminis- 

 tered to those who aim to stop the most fruitful advance in scientific 

 medicine. At present, a few ill-balanced people seem to derive a cheap 

 and easy glow of self-satisfied altruism by exaggerating the discom- 

 forts of animals who are being studied for the good of the human race. 



The object of this paper is to show what animal experimentation 

 has actually done for children. Let us substitute real facts for morbid 

 and exaggerated fancies. Let us weigh the relative importance of a 

 child's suffering or life against the discomfort and even occasional suffer- 

 ing of a dog. This is directly pertinent, for, in a last analysis, the de- 

 fenceless child will have to pay the principal penalty if the advances in 

 treatment brought about by animal experimentation are to be retarded 

 or checked. A large part of all sickness occurs among children. The 

 period of growth is one of great physiological energy, and pathological 

 changes are often only an index of an overstrained physiological activity. 

 Besides this, young protoplasm is irritable and favors the development 

 of germs of all kinds. The victims of microbic diseases are chiefly the 

 young. It is evident that the complete understanding and treatment 

 of disease at this period assume the greatest importance, and anything 

 interfering with such beneficent work may have the gravest conse- 

 quences. It thus becomes a question of morals as well as medicine. 



A brief review of some of its brilliant accomplishments will serve to 

 emphasize the value of animal experimentation for children : 



Diphtheria 



The most overwhelming proof of the value of a specific treatment 

 is seen in connection with antitoxin in diphtheria. Before the intro- 



