440 VIVISECTION [Chap. XII 



Letter 773 To Lauder Brunton. 



Sir T. Lauder Brunton had written (Feb. 12th) to Mr. Darwin 

 explaining that two opinions were held as to the constitution of the 

 proposed Science Defence Association : one that it should consist of 

 a small number of representative men ; the other that it should, if 

 possible, embrace every medical practitioner in the country. Sir Lauder 

 Brunton adds: "I should be very greatly obliged if you would kindly 

 say what you think of the two schemes." 



Down, Feb. 14th, 1882. 



I am very much obliged for your information in regard to 

 the Association, about which I feel a great interest. It seems 

 to me highly desirable that the Association should include as 

 many medical and scientific men as possible throughout the 

 whole country, who could illumine those capable of illumina- 

 tion on the necessity of physiological research ; but that the 

 Association should be governed by a council of powerful 

 men, not too many in number. Such a council, as repre- 

 senting a large body of medical men, would have more power 

 in the eyes of vote-hunting politicians than a small body 

 representing only themselves. 



From what I see of country practitioners, I think that 

 their annual subscription ought to be very small. But would 

 it not be possible to add to the rules some such statement 

 as the following one : " That by a donation of £ . . . , or 

 of any larger sum, from those who feel a deep interest in the 

 progress of medical science, the donor shall become a life 

 member." I, for one, would gladly subscribe ^50 or £100. 

 If such a plan were approved by the leading medical men of 

 London, two or three thousand pounds might at once be 

 collected ; and if any such sum could be announced as already 

 subscribed, when the programme of the Association is put forth, 

 it would have, as I believe, a considerable influence on the 

 country, and would attract the attention of country prac- 

 titioners. The Anti-Corn Law League owed much of its 

 enormous power to several wealthy men laying down ;£ 1,000 ; 

 for the subscription of a good sum of money is the best proof 

 of earnest conviction. You asked for my opinion on the 

 above points, and I have given it freely, though well aware 

 that from living so retired a life my judgment cannot be 

 worth much. 



Have you read Mr. Gurney's articles in the Fortnightly and 



