798 REPORT— 1894. 



The more virulent opposition, in some measure, to science generally, but in the 

 greatest measure to Physiology, appeared almost simultaneously with the active 

 revival of the subject. This opposition, which has come to be known as the Anti- 

 vivisection Movement, but which might equally well bo called the Anti-scientific 

 Agitation, has hitherto met with no measure of success, except that it has to a 

 certain extent hampered the full development of the science by diverting to its 

 defence some of the energy which might be devoted to its pursuit. Indeed, the 

 actual results of this unreasoning agitation furnish an illustration of the old-esta- 

 blished principle that persecution of a good cause will in the long run tend 

 towards its development and propagation. And in this case the chief results have 

 been the following : — 



1. The most immediate effect of the anti-vivisectionist attack was the establish- 

 ment of the Physiological Society, which in the first instance was only a small 

 gathering of working physiologists, who met to discuss measures of defence 

 in a drawing-room in Queen Anne Street. This society, which had such a small 

 beginning, is now large and important. Its doors are besieged by applicants for 

 admission, although it is a necessity for such admission that the applicant be either 

 a teacher of Physiology or a worker at Physiology, or both. Its numerical strength 

 has grown from ten or fifteen to more than 150 ; and its numbers are every year 

 increasing. And, besides the work which it has done in this country in promoting the 

 interests of Physiology, and co-operation between English physiologists, it has suc- 

 ceeded in establishing a succession of Triennial International Congresses of Physio- 

 logy, which are amongst the most successful of such gatherings, and which have 

 been the means of bringing us into communication with the most prominent 

 physiological workers and teachers on the Continent. 



2. A second result of the agitation was the passing of the so-called Cruelty 

 to Animals Act. This Act, which was intended to restrict the performance 

 of experiments upon animals, was in no sense called for, since it had been found 

 by a Koyal Commission that there was no evidence to show that there had been 

 unnecessary experimentation upon animals, or any desire on the part of physio- 

 logists to neglect the use of anaesthetics. On the other hand, it is of inestimable 

 advantage in that it gives the public a definite guarcantee that the excesses 

 of which physiologists used to be freely accused are not possible. Such excesses 

 never did actually occur ; altbougli,to believe all the publications which have been 

 issued by Anti-vivisection Societies, one would come to the conclusion that a 

 physiologist is a being who spends his whole time in torturing sensitive creatures, 

 careless of the suffering which he may cause, or even of the scientific results which 

 he may obtain. The fanatical supporters of the agitation would have you to 

 believe that we are all neither more nor less than ' fiends ; ' they cry with Ferdinand 

 that * hell is empty and all the devils are here." 



I am told there was even a feeling of this sort in this ITniversity at the time 

 when it was proposed to establish the Waj'neflete Professorship of Physiology, and 

 that an agitation was set on foot having for its object, first, the prevention of 

 the establishment cf such professorship; and secondly, that being impossible, the 

 prevention of the professor's practising Physiology. The common-sense of the 

 University stifled this agitation, and the more intimate acquaintance with physio- 

 logists which has resulted from the establishment of the school has been suihcient, 

 I believe, to smother the little fire which was still left smouldering. 



3. A third result of the Anti-vivisection Agitation was the establishment 

 of the Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research. This imme- 

 diately folloAved a unanimous resolution of the International Medical Congress 

 of 1881, attirming the necessity of experiments upon animals. To the ignorant 

 accusation that physiological experiments had been and were of no use or influence 

 in the advancement of medicine, the leaders of the profession unanimously affirmed 

 that it is upon Physiology that Medicine and Surgery are based, and that there can 

 be no real progress in those sciences without a corresponding progress in Experi- 

 mental Physiology and Palhology. The Association for the Advancement of 

 Medicine by llesearch has been of the greatest possible vnlue and assistance to 

 Physiology in this country. It has shown physiologists that they have the great 



