50 



cut to pieces do not die, but each piece is developed into a new 

 creature : this is only one out of scores of examples which could 

 be quoted. 



Because animals usually manifest suffering by certain sounds 

 or movements, it must not be assumed too hastily that the mani- 

 festation of these movements or sounds necessarily indicates 

 pain. A paralysed and insensible limb is often drawn forcibly 

 away when touched. We are told that a recently-decapitated 

 horse will, when skinned, kick out with sufficient force to cause 

 severe injury, if the spinal cord has not been previously destroyed. 

 Such facts must not be forgotten in trying to distinguish the real 

 from the apparent suffering during a vivisectional experiment. 



We are very apt to form exaggerated notions as to the amount 

 of suffering caused by cutting operations. We raostl7 estimate it 

 from the pain of a scratch or other injury of the skin, which is 

 known to be more severe than that of a deep cut by a sharp 

 knife. Cutting operations are frequently performed on the eye, 

 which is usually considered au extremely sensitive organ, without 

 chloroform, and without the production of severe suffering. 



People who know nothing of vivisection — probably forming 

 their ideas on this subject from certain horrible pictures which 

 were to be seen a short time ago stuck on the walls in various 

 parts of London — seem to think that usually animals are nailed 

 down to boards and hacked to pieces in the most horrible fashion, 

 while the whole neighbourhood is aroused by their hideous cries. 

 As a matter of fact, the experiments of many investigators have 

 scarcely ever exceeded the injection of certain nuiterials under the 

 skin — an operation performed many times everyday by individuals 

 upon themselves — or the feeding of animals upon noxious materials. 



When painful experiments are performed, we have the word 

 of all the English Physiologists, that ansesthetics are always used 

 when possible, and that there is not one case in five hundred in 

 which their use is not possible. Experiments are most frequently 

 made on decapitated fi-ogs. The Secretary of the Society ibr the 

 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, after investigation, bears 

 testimony to the absence of cruelty in any form. 



According to Burden Sanderson, not more than sixteen 

 people in England practise vivisection. Nothing, or next to 

 nothing, is done outside the great schools, and only in some of 



