PROTECTION OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 589 



vice in the eradication of infectious and epizootic diseases. Advance- 

 ment is being rapidly made, but before the desired results can be attained 

 much additional knowledge must be acquired. Those engaged in this 

 kind of investigation are constantly encountering difficulties by way of 

 limited facilities and funds. The greatest danger, however, that 

 threatens progress in the prevention of disease is the propaganda against 

 vivisection. The time has passed when unnecessary pain is to be 

 tolerated in experimental work. The men and women who are engaged 

 in work requiring the use of animals are sensible of their discomforts. 

 Nevertheless, in the grim warfare against suffering and disease it is 

 often necessary to utilize a few animals for diagnosis. A larger number 

 are required for the preparation of serums and vaccines for therapeutic 

 and immunizing purposes. No one fails to appreciate the importance of 

 minimizing the number of deaths among animals, thereby checking the 

 unnecessary loss from disease. To accomplish this it is sometimes neces- 

 sary to sacrifice a few individuals in order that epizootics may be 

 checked. In all great crises the lives of a few have been willingly 

 sacrificed in order to save the many. Thus the few animals that were 

 used in the investigation of the nature of Texas fever in cattle and the 

 means by which its virus is transmitted have saved thousands and 

 thousands of cattle from suffering and death from that disease. It is 

 to be hoped that eventually science may give us a substitute for experi- 

 mental animals. However, the protection against disease that is afforded 

 the flocks and herds of our country warrants the most hearty and loyal 

 support of the principles underlying the present methods of control. 



It is impossible in the limits of a single article to discuss adequately 

 all of the essential factors involved in bringing about the desired protec- 

 tion of domesticated animals. Great improvement has been made in the 

 methods usually referred to under the term of the care of animals, such 

 as gentle handling, proper exercise, suitable food and shelter. Better- 

 ments along these lines will be made as fast as the acquisition of new 

 knowledge of their physiological requirements permits. Better care 

 of the sick and injured will follow as fast as the owners come to a 

 realization of their obligations to their animals. The suffering and 

 losses from infectious and epizootic diseases will decrease in direct pro- 

 portion to the application of rational methods for their prevention. The 

 organized efforts to do away with cruelty are more rational and more 

 effective because they are based on scientific principles. The ideal con- 

 ditions to be attained will come only through the growth of knowledge 

 of the requirements of animals and a deeper consciousness of man's 

 responsibility over dumb creation. 



