ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION 6i 



The benefits of vaccination against typhoid fever are shared by chil- 

 dren with adults, and the tests for the speedy recognition of tuberculosis 

 and syphilis have given brilliant results by allowing early and suc- 

 cessful treatment. It has been ignorantly or maliciously stated that 

 these diseases may be induced by these tests, whereas such an accident 

 is rendered impossible by the preliminary destruction of the living virus. 

 Most of these charges are made by those having a ludicrous ignorance of 

 the most elementary facts of biology. 



In many cases, the destructive and prolonged poisoning of syphilis 

 can be eradicated by a few doses of Salvarsan followed by the older 

 alterative treatment, and thereby a hereditary taint completely re- 

 moved. It is thus possible to protect innocent mothers and unborn or 

 recently born infants. 



Surgical Conditions 



It is hardly necessary to state that children have derived their 

 full share in the inestimable benefits that have followed aseptic and an- 

 tiseptic surgery. Septicemia and pyemia are prevented and frequently 

 cured. Cavities of the body formerly out of reach of surgical aid are 

 now fearlessly explored and life thus saved. As an example, the various 

 obstructions of the bowel peculiar to children are cured in a large pro- 

 portions of cases. In former times death usually ensued in such con- 

 ditions, as both physician and surgeon feared the large mortality that 

 followed the opening of the abdomen. Even very young infants are 

 now successfully operated upon for this grave condition. Certain forms 

 of peritonitis are cured by simply opening the abdomen. 



Recently, bone grafting, that promises brilliant results in straighten- 

 ing crooked backs and other bony deformities in children, has been suc- 

 cessfully tried as a result of previous experiments on animals. 



Profuse and uncontrollable hemorrhages in the newly-born, formerly 

 fatal, are now saved by transfusion, which was first studied and the 

 technique perfected by vessel suturing in the lower animals. Prac- 

 tically the whole realm of surgical accidents and diseases in children 

 has been benefited and illuminated, directly and indirectly, as a result of 

 animal experimentation. We must not forget to mention, in this con- 

 nection, how anti-tetanus serum has prevented lockjaw after certain 

 jagged wounds. It has thus helped to take away some of the horror 

 from the frequent accidents to children in the cherished, but undesir- 

 able. Fourth of July celebrations. 



If such great and beneficent work has already been accomplished in a 

 few years, it is safe to prophesy more certain and brilliant results in the 

 future. Scientific men have perfected their knowledge and technique 

 and are fast conquering nature's secrets. There is no foretelling to 

 what extent disease can be overcome by persisting in the present fruitful 



