VIVISECTION. 451 



as an exceptional means, and one to be dealt with excep- 

 tionally. 



I would be found amongst the foremost to contemplate 

 with horror the contingency of an individual who, impressed 

 by the belief that he had a special call to the department of 

 physiological science, yet unprepared through previous edu- 

 cation to profit by any evidence the organisation of a living 

 animal might be made to reveal, should tamper unchecked 

 with animal life, and inflict pain recklessly, by vivisection or 

 otherwise. 



I think that no detriment would accrue to science if an 

 act of parliament were passed restricting vivisection to medi- 

 cal schools, registered as such, and amenable to the super- 

 vision of the inspector of anatomy. I can imagine exceptional 

 cases, to the circumstances of which it were w T ell that the 

 provisions of such an act of parliament did not apply. I am, 

 moreover, aware that such an act could not be easily worded 

 so as to avoid legislative miscarriage through ridicule. Lite- 

 rally, the gardener who cuts an earth-worm in twain is a 

 vivisector ; so is an angler who lacerates an earth-worm on 

 his hook. A really efficient act should be loosely worded ; 

 it should avoid all recondite definitions. The interpretation 

 of it in every separate case should be made under the light 

 of common-sense. 



I apprehend that neither here nor abroad is the practice 

 of vivisection in aid of scientific inquiry so commonly per- 

 formed, or so cruel in its results, as to call for strong repre- 

 hension. I apprehend that it is to vivisection performed in 

 furtherance of operative dexterity by veterinary surgeons 

 upon which the opprobrium of civilised humanity should be 

 concentrated. I hold that vivisection, to this end employed, 

 is a stupid misapplication of a cruel mode of experiment ; that 

 it is a practice useless, not merely to the operator, but inju- 

 rious, for reasons already set forth. I hold it to be one in 

 whose defence no argument can be adduced that does not 



