1 875.] VIVISECTION. 2O5 



The following letter appeared in the Times, April i8th, 

 1881 :] 



C. Darwin to Frithiof Holmgren* 



Down, April 14, 1881. 



DEAR SIR, In answer to your courteous letter of April 7, 

 I have no objection to express my opinion with respect to 

 the right of experimenting on living animals. I use this latter 

 expression as more correct and comprehensive than that of 

 vivisection. You are at liberty to make any use of this letter 

 which you may think fit, but if published I should wish the 

 whole to appear. I have all my life been a strong advocate 

 for humanity to animals, and have done what I could in my 

 writings to enforce this duty. Several years ago, when the 

 agitation against physiologists commenced in England, it 

 was asserted that inhumanity was here practised, and useless 

 suffering caused to animals ; and I was led to think that it 

 might be advisable to have an Act of Parliament on the 

 subject. I then took an active part in trying to get a Bill 

 passed, such as would have removed all just cause of com- 

 plaint, and at the same time have left physiologists free to 

 pursue their researches, a Bill very different from the Act 

 which has since been passed. It is right to add that the 

 investigation of the matter by a Royal Commission proved 

 that the accusations made against our English physiologists 

 were false. From all that I have heard, however, I fear that 

 in some parts of Europe little regard is paid to the sufferings 

 of animals, and if this be the case, I should be glad to hear of 

 legislation against inhumanity in any such country. On the 

 other hand, I know that physiology cannot possibly progress 

 except by means of experiments on living animals, and I 

 feel the deepest conviction that he who retards the progress 

 of physiology commits a crime against mankind. Any one 



* Professor of Physiology at Upsala. 



