VIVISECTION. . 435 



Here, before discussing the proposition, it will be needful 

 to beg a postulate ; one that will be readily granted even by 

 the most strenuous advocates of the necessity of vivisection 

 in aid of operative dexterity. Whereas no sentiment is op- 

 posed to mortuary dissection being practical, up to the ex- 

 treme limit determined by facility of supply, yet nobody, 

 not even the most strenuous vivisectional advocate, would 

 claim a field of operation so wide for the practice of vivi- 

 section. 



Neither would the vivisector be able to acquire a field of 

 action comparable for extent with the one occupied by the 

 mortuary dissector, even were he to press the claim. Even 

 though it were possible to make out a case distinctly favour- 

 able to the practice of vivisection in aid of surgical dexterity 

 ay, of vivisection on whatever behalf followed still, the 

 natural repugnance to this practice is so strong, the balance 

 of human sentiment is so much against it, that the sentiment, 

 through the operation and effects of which mankind are in- 

 fluenced and their actions determined, would lining the prac- 

 tice to a comparatively narrow field. 



If we calmly and thoughtfully reflect on the spring and 

 causation of human impulses ; if we seriously propose, each 

 individual to himself, the cause and reason of our likes and 

 dislikes, the result of that inquiry may astonish some who 

 may not have yet entered upon it. Though human beings, 

 having regard to the glorious attributes of thought, investi- 

 gation, reflection, and judgment, which appertain to human 

 nature, should be able ultimately, and after the exercise of 

 sufficient thought, with the concomitants of thought, to ad- 

 duce a reason for individual likings and antipathies, yet this 

 process of ratiocination is slow. It is so slow, that God has 

 seemingly impressed us with instincts to stand in aid before 

 judgment, founded on ratiocination, can take effect. In this 

 way we tend to like or dislike persons or things, acts or poli- 

 cies, on the instant. Did space permit entering upon a theme 



