468 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxix 



and Pharmacology, and therefore to the progress of rational 

 medicine. 



Another letter on the subject may be given, which was 

 written to a student at a theological college, in reply to a 

 request for his opinion on vivisection, which was to be dis- 

 cussed at the college debating society. 



Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, Sept. 29, 1890. 



Dear Sir — I am of the opinion that the practice of perform- 

 ing experiments on living animals is not only reconcilable with 

 true humanity, but under certain circumstances is imperatively 

 demanded by it. 



Experiments on living animals are of two kinds. First, 

 those which are made upon animals which, although living, are 

 incapable of sensation, in consequence of the destruction or the 

 paralysis of the sentient machinery. 



I am not aware that the propriety of performing experi- 

 ments of this kind is seriously questioned, except in so far as 

 they may involve some antecedent or subsequent suffering. Of 

 course those who deny that under any circumstances it can be 

 right to inflict suffering on other sentient beings for our own 

 good, must object to even this much of what they call cruelty. 

 And when they prove their sincerity by leaving off animal food ; 

 by objecting to drive castrated horses, or indeed to employ ani- 

 mal labour at all; and by refusing to destroy rats, mice, fleas, 

 bugs and other sentient vermin, they may expect sensible people 

 to listen to them, and sincere people to think them other than 

 sentimental hypocrites. 



As to experiments of the second kind, which do not admit of 

 the paralysis of the sentient mechanism, and the performance of 

 which involves severe prolonged suffering to the more sensitive 

 among the higher animals, I should be sorry to make any sweep- 

 ing assertion. I am aware of a strong personal dislike to them, 

 which tends to warp my judgment, and I am prepared to make 

 any allowance for those who, carried away by still more intense 

 dislike, would utterly prohibit these experiments. 



But it has been my duty to give prolonged and careful atten- 

 tion to this subject, and putting natural sympathy aside, to try 

 and get at the rights and wrongs of the business from a higher 

 point of view, namely, that of humanity, which is often very 

 different from that of emotional sentiment. 



I ask myself — suppose you knew that by inflicting prolonged 



