
1891.] Vivisection. 869 
the surgeons in such bold surgical operations for the relief and 
permanent cure of such dreadful pathological disorders. 
Since the term vivisection includes all experiments upon the 
living animal, whether the knife is used or not, there is also a 
medical phase of the question, and here it will suffice to say that 
the physiologicak action of all medicinal preparations would never 
have been thoroughly understood had it not been for experiments 
upon living animals. These experiments serve to determine, first, 
the physiological action of a drug or preparation; second, the 
minimum and maximum dosage; third, the poisonous effects of 
drugs, and their antidotes; and 4th, the effects of hypodermic 
injections and inoculations. 
o an unbiased thinker I believe I have proved that vivisection 
is both necessary and justifiable. Even the humanitarian, if he 
be a sportsman, thinks little of the pain given to animals in the 
chase. No one objects to the killing of animals for food or for 
their commercial value, even though the animal die a lingering 
and painful death. If it is legitimate to slay animals in order to 
supply food and luxuries, and even amusement, why should it 
not be legitimate to inflict pain upon or to slay an animal for the 
higher and nobler purpose of relieving suffering humanity and 
prolonging human life ? 
Therefore, again I say, remove the prohibition, but regulate 
and encourage the practice of the indispensable accessory of 
scientific progress,—vzv7section. 
