1875 VIVISECTION COMMISSION 167 



conditions under which they considered experiments 

 on living animals justifiable. In the early spring of 

 1875 a bill to regulate physiological research was in- 

 troduced into the Upper House by Lord Hartismere, 

 but not proceeded with. When legislation seemed 

 imminent Huxley, in concert with other men of 

 science, interested himself in drawing up a petition to 

 Parliament to direct opinion on the subject and pro- 

 vide a fair basis for future legislation, which indeed 

 took shape immediately after in a bill introduced by 

 Dr. Lyon Playfair (afterwards Lord Playfair), Messrs. 

 Walpole and Ashley. This bill, though more just to 

 science, did not satisfy many scientific men, and 

 was withdrawn upon the appointment of a Royal 

 Commission. 



The following letters to Mr. Darwin bear on this 

 period : 



4 MARLBOROUGH PLACE, 

 Jan. 22, 1875. 



MY DEAR DARWIN I quite agree with your letter 

 about vivisection as a matter of right and justice in the 

 first place, and secondly as the best method of taking the 

 wind out of the enemy's sails. I will communicate with 

 Burdon Sanderson and see what can be done. 



My reliance as against and her fanatical follow- 

 ing is not in the wisdom and justice of the House of 

 Commons, but in the large number of fox-hunters therein. 

 If physiological- experimentation is put down by law, 

 hunting, fishing, and shooting, against which a much 

 better case can be made out, will soon follow. Ever 

 yours very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



