432 VIVISECTION. 



rational and valid ground for barring its practice, if testimony 

 should prove vivisection needful, the interests of humanity 

 regarded. 



Let us accept the postulate, that, however repugnant 

 the idea of vivisection, however repulsive, still no argument 

 founded upon that sentiment wholly can be admitted to have 

 reference to the case. Let us eliminate, therefore, all inbred 

 prejudices against vivisection, discussing the matter 011 the 

 strength of intrinsic evidence. 



First, proposing the question whether vivisection be neces- 

 sary or justifiable, whether needful to impart dexterity to the 

 operator, I say emphatically, No ! coupling that denial with 

 expression of surprise that the affirmative should ever have 

 gained credence. 



Needful to give dexterity of hand in operating ! Oper- 

 ating upon wJwm or what ? Is it operations upon the human 

 subject that are contemplated, or operations upon brutes ? 

 If human surgeons never avail themselves of this means of 

 acquiring dexterity, then assuredly no sufficient plea can be 

 urged for veterinary surgeons. 



Here it is proper that a certain condition limitary to the 

 performance of vivisection in aid of operative dexterity should 

 be apprehended. In such a case the operation, if performed 

 at all, must be identical, not analogical. 



The cutting-open one animal of one species could afford, 

 as will soon be proved, no guidance to a surgeon designing to 

 operate upon another animal of another species ; whereas if 

 furtherance of science be the plea for vivisection, then inves- 

 tigations conducted on a lower animal may lead to deductions 

 applicable to the case of a higher animal. Whether the con- 

 ception be rational or irrational, well or ill-grounded, I shall 

 endeavour to determine farther on. 



The incompetence of analogical vivisection to give dex- 

 terity of hand in operating is self-evident to every anatomist. 

 Inasmuch, however, as this is written for those who are mostly 



