160 LIFE Of 



who, like myself, can work for only a short time in a day." 

 One of the few occasions on which he appeared as a 

 champion of a cause was on the question of vivisection, 

 in which a chivalrous feeling led him to intervene with 

 the following letter to Professor Holmgren, of Upsala 

 University, which was published in The Times of 

 April 1 8, 1 88 1. "I thought it fair," he wrote, "to bear 

 my share of the abuse poured in so atrocious a manner 

 on all physiologists." 



"DEAR SIR, In answer to your courteous letter of 

 April 7, I have no objection to express my opinion with 

 respect to the right of experimenting on living animals. 

 I use this latter expression as more correct and compre- 

 hensive than that of vivisection. You are at liberty to 

 make any use of this letter which you may think fit, but 

 if published I should wish the whole to appear. I have 

 all my life been a strong advocate for humanity to 

 animals, and have done what I could in my writings to 

 enforce this duty. Several years ago, when the agitation 

 against physiologists commenced in England, it was 

 asserted that inhumanity was here practised, and useless 

 suffering caused to animals ; and I was led to think that 

 it might be advisable to have an Act of Parliament on the 

 subject. I then took an active part in trying to get a 

 Bill passed, such as would have removed all just cause 

 of complaint, and at the same time have left physiologists 

 free to pursue their researches a Bill very different from 

 the Act which has since been passed. It is right to add 

 that the investigation of the matter by a Royal Com- 

 mission proved that the accusations made against our 



