932 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVII. No. 702 



known the facts as to experiments on animals 

 in this country; the immense importance to 

 the welfare of mankind of such experiments; 

 and the great saving of human life and health 

 directly attributahle to them. 



The great advance that has been made dur- 

 ing the last quarter of a century in our knowl- 

 edge of the functions of the body, and of the 

 causes of diseases, would have been impossible 

 without a combination of experiment and ob- 

 servation. 



The use of antiseptics, and the modern 

 treatment of wounds, is the direct outcome of 

 the experiments of Pasteur and Lister. 

 Pasteur's discovery of the microbial cause of 

 puerperal fever has in itself enormously re- 

 duced the deaths of women in child-birth. 



The nature of tuberculosis is now known, 

 and its incidence has materially diminished. 



We owe the invention of diphtheria anti- 

 toxin entirely to experiments on animals. 



The causes of plague, cholera, typhoid, 

 Mediterranean fever and sleeping sickness 

 have been discovered solely by the experi- 

 mental method. 



Not only have a large number of drugs been 

 placed at our disposal, but accurate knowledge 

 has replaced the empirical use of many of 

 those previously known. 



The evidence before the Royal Commission 

 has shown that these experiments are con- 

 ducted with proper care; the small amount of 

 pain or discomfort inflicted is insignificant 

 compared with the great gain to knowledge 

 and the direct advantage to humanity. 



While acknowledging in general the utility 

 of the experimental method, efforts have been 

 made by a section of the public to throw dis- 

 credit on all experiments involving the use of 

 animals. The Research Defense Society will 

 therefore endeavor to make it clear that medi- 

 cal and other scientific men who employ these 

 methods are not less humane than the rest of 

 their countrymen, who daily, though perhaps 

 unconsciously, profit by them. 



The society proposes to give information to 

 all inquiries, to publish precis, articles and 

 leaflets, to make arrangements for lectures, to 

 send speakers, if required, to debates, and to 



assist all who desire to examine the arguments 

 on behalf of experiments on animals. It 

 hopes to establish branches in our chief cities, 

 and thus to be in touch with all parts of the 

 kingdom; and to be at the service of muni- 

 cipal bodies, hospitals and other public insti- 

 tutions. 



The society was formed on January 27 of 

 the present year, and already numbers more 

 than 800 members. It is not an association 

 of men of science or of medical men alone; its 

 membership has been dravTn from all depart- 

 ments of public life, and includes representa- 

 tives of every class of educated Englishmen 

 and Englishwomen, including many who have 

 taken an active part in the prevention of 

 cruelty to animals. This fact is in itself a 

 remarkable protest against the attacks which 

 have been made on the researches that the 

 society has been formed to defend. 



The annual subscription is 5s. to cover 

 working expenses, but larger subscriptions or 

 donations will be gladly received. The acting 

 hon. treasurer, pro- tern., is Mr. J. Luard 

 Pattisson, C.B. (of the Lister Institute) ; and 

 an account in the societjr's name has been 

 opened with Messrs. Coutts and Co., 440 

 Strand. The hon. secretary is Mr. Stephen 

 Paget, 70 Harley Street, W., to whom all com- 

 munications should be addressed. 



TEE ADMINISTRATION OF SYRACUSE 

 UNIVERSITY ^ 



Syracuse University, 



June 3d, 1908. 

 To THE Board of Trustees op Syracuse 

 University. 

 Gentlemen: 1 hereby decline to tender you 

 my resignation as Dean and Professor of 

 Mechanical Engineering in the L. C. Smith 

 College of Applied Science, and ask you to 



^Thia letter from Dean Kent to the board of 

 trustees of Syracuse University is printed for the 

 information of scientific men. It need scarcely be 

 said that Science is ready to print a statement 

 in justification of the administration of Syracuse 

 University from the chancellor or from any re- 

 sponsible source. — Ed. 



