450 VIVISECTION. 



may not, if there be reasonable cause of doubt in his mind, 

 repeat any experiment by the teaching of which other people 

 had come to their conclusions. There must be no dogmas 

 of infallibility in the teaching of experimental science; no 

 affectation of high-priesthood. Testimony based on experi- 

 ment is all in all in such a case. This I fully admit, whilst 

 affirming (what must be obvious) that so soon as testimony is 

 held to be conclusive to the mind of any philosopher, he will 

 not desire to re-perform an experiment. This is a deduction 

 almost self-evident. It is one that teachers of physiology 

 should impress upon the minds and understandings of all 

 physiological students. 



The pride of knowledge is sometimes represented as being 

 very strong. I do not concede the truth of that doctrine, 

 though fully acquiescing, if for the expression ' knowledge,' 

 6 assumption of knowledge' be substituted. It is often a 

 tendency of young men to think themselves competent to the 

 investigation of recondite problems in science before they 

 have mastered preliminaries that alone could give presump- 

 tive hope of success. In this way, and actuated by this 

 motive, I have seen young men, not naturally cruel, urged 

 to the practice of vivisection under the belief that they were 

 acquitting themselves of a needful though disagreeable duty. 

 I have seen this, but rarely. 



Having recognised as justifiable the aid of vivisection pur- 

 sued in the interests of scientific advancement; being fully 

 impressed with the desirability, not to say duty, of restricting 

 that mode of inquiry within the narrowest profitable limits ; 

 recognising too the force of the general proposition, that 

 it is inexpedient for individuals scientifically inclined to be 

 impeded in their experiments; impressed with all this, I 

 am conscious how difficult it is to suggest practical means 

 whereby the sentiments here expressed in regard to vivi- 

 section may find practical application. I am of opinion that 

 this means of acquiring knowledge ought to be regarded 



