2/8 American Societies for Experimental Biology [Jan. 



and co-ordination in the essential things, with no interference with 

 the individuality of the constituent societies. This co-operation is 

 certainly desirable between all the biological societies, and we be- 

 lieve the Federation plan can and ought to be extended in that direc- 

 tion. We believe it will increase the efficiency of the societies as 

 agencies for the promotion of research and dissemination of truth. 

 At the first executive meeting of the Federation, Dec. 31, 191 3, 

 the following declaration on the subject of animal experimentation 

 was unanimously adopted : 



(i) We, the members of the Federation of American Societies for 

 Experimental Biology — comprising the American Physiological Society, 

 the American Society of Biological Chemists, the American Society for 

 Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and the American So- 

 ciety for Experimental Pathology — in Convention assembled, hereby 

 express our accord with the declaration of the recent International 

 Medical Congress and other authoritative medical organizations, in 

 favor of the scientific method designated properly animal experimenta- 

 tion but sometimes " vivisection." 



(2) We point to the remarkable and innumerable achievements, 

 by means of animal experimentation in the past, in advancing the 

 knowledge of biological laws ; and devising methods of procedure for 

 the eure of disease, and for the prevention of suffering in human 

 beings and lower animals. We emphasize the necessity of animal 

 experimentation in continuing similar beneficent work in the future. 



(3) We are firmly opposed to cruelty to animals. We heartily 

 Support all humane efforts to prevent the wanton infliction of pain. 

 The vast majority of experiments on animals need not be and, in fact, 

 are not accompanied by any pain whatsoever. Under the regulations 

 already in force, which reduce discomfort to the least possible amount 

 and which require the decision of doubtful cases by the responsible 

 laboratory director, the Performance of those rare experiments which 

 involve pain is, we believe, justifiable. 



(4) We regret the widespread lack of information regarding the 

 aims, the achievements and procedures of animal experimentation. 

 We deplore the persistent misrepresentation of these aims, achievements 

 and procedures by those who are opposed to this scientific method. We 

 protest against the frequent denunciations of self-sacrificing, high- 

 minded men of science, who are devoting their llves to the weif are of 

 mankind in efforts to solve the complicated problems of living beings 

 and their diseases. 



