i 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



We may reject the spray and carbolic acid, but the surgical world, 

 regardless of details, with few exceptions follows the principles upon 

 which his method is founded and humanity is the gainer, by the nearly 

 total abolition of inflammation, suppuration, secondary haemorrhage, 

 blood-poisoning, gangrene, and erysipelas, as sequels of accidents and 

 operations ; by the practicable relief from suffering and death, by op- 

 erations formerly impossible ; by rendering amputations and compound 

 fractures safe and simple instead of deadly. Reflect on what each one 

 of these brief but momentous statements means ! 



But we have by no means reached perfection. Lister himself, no 

 tyro, but the great master, is still searching for further improvements. 

 But when lately he desired to make some experiments on animals, still 

 further to perfect our practice, so many obstructions were thrown in 

 his way in England that he was driven to Toulouse to pursue his hu- 

 mane researches. 



I had intended also to speak of many other practical benefits to 

 man directly, but can only mention such important matters as the sur- 

 gery of the thyroid gland, the seat of goitre ; the surgery of the lungs, 

 part of which have been removed ; the surgery of the nerves, removal 

 of the entire larynx, the remarkable researches of late years as to the 

 periosteum in the reproduction of new bone after removal of dead or 

 diseased bone ; Bernard's important observations as to diabetes ; 

 Brown-Sequard"s experiments on epilepsy, the modern extraordinary 

 advance in nearly all the diseases of the nervous system, and a 

 number of other discoveries, as to all of which experiments upon 

 animals have added largely to our knowledge, and therefore to our 

 means of diminishing suffering and saving human life. For many 

 of these, as well as for the most judicial discussion of the vivisec- 

 tion question I have yet seen, I must refer you to that remark- 

 able book, "Physiological Cruelty," written, not by a man, but a 

 woman* 



I had also intended to refer in detail to the splendid results of vivi- 

 section in relieving the sufferings of animals, and in preventing enor- 

 mous pecuniary loss to man. We are only beginning to see that vivi- 

 section is as humane to animal life and suffering as it is to human, and 

 that for financial reasons as well as humane motives it is of the utmost 

 importance to the State that such diseases as cattle-plague, splenic 

 fever, chicken-cholera, swine-plague, and others, should be eradicated. 

 Vivisection has shown us how this may be done, and has so conferred 

 upon animals too the boon of life and health. For all this, however, I 

 must refer you to the recent admirable lecture by Professor Robert 

 Meade Smith, of the University of Pennsylvania.! 



One subject, however, is so recent and of such interest, both to 

 man and animals, that I must not pass it over I mean that justly- 



* Sec also the just issued " Life and Labors of Pasteur." 



\ Reprinted from the "Therapeutic Gazette," November, 1884. 



