49 



ABSTRACT OF A PAPER 



HEAD KY 



FRANCIS T. TAYLER, M.B., B A., Presidekt, 



ox 



THE VIVISECTION QUESTION, 



On DECEMBER 20th, 1882. 



"We caiiuot properly discuss this question without first in- 

 quiring into the amount of suffering inflicted by man on animals 

 in other ways and ior other purposes. A very slight investigation 

 will show that animals endure sufferings at the hands of man, 

 which pass in a descending scale from what may be designated 

 the simply unnecessary to the most cruel and unjustifiable. Here 

 are a few examples. 



Assuming that the killing of animals is necessary to provide 

 food, the amount of ueedleses cruelty inflicted on them in the 

 streets, on board steam-boats, and in slaughter-houses, is probably 

 known only to few. 



Thousands of animals are sacrificed every year in order to 

 provide materials for personal adornment. 



A countless number of animals sufl'er severely by the crop- 

 ping of ears, docking of tails, and other mutilations inflicted for 

 mere convenience or cajirice. 



The pursuit of sport causes an amount of suffering which can 

 scarcely be estimated. We have examples in the use of hve bait 

 by fishermen, the maiming of animals in shooting, and especially 

 trapping game. As far as we can judge the suffering endured by 

 a hunted fox or hare is horrible in the extreme. 



When we put all this against the pain inflicted by vivisection 

 the latter becomes almost lost to view. Professor Lister considers 

 that more suffering is inflicted in one day's battue shooting than 

 in a year's vivisection. 



The horse-breeder, the stock iiirmer, the sportsman, may do 

 all these things to their heart's content ; but the Scientist cannot 

 move without tiic risk of instant prosecution. 



The opinion is held by many that all animals are equally 

 sensitive to pain. This view is supported only by conjecture. 

 There is the strongest evidence to the contrary. Polyi3S Avhcn 



