346 



ACT 39 AND 40 VIC. C. 77 



good reasons ; and, as it does not render an 

 anaesthetised animal sensitive, it would be absurd to 

 forbid its use." 



Some of those who are opposed to all experi- 

 ments on animals say that the operation is done 

 under chloroform or ether — what they call "a whiff 

 of chloroform " — and the animal is then subjected 

 to horrible tortures heightened by curare. But, 

 apart from the fact that the internal organs, even in 

 man, are so little sensitive to touch that they may 

 be called insensitive, and apart from the fact that 

 morphia is combined with curare, there is evidence 

 that curare, in such doses as are given in those few 

 cases where it is used, acts not only on the motor 

 system but also on the sensory system : — 



" It is quite true that curare in small doses has 

 the effect of paralysing the motor nerves without 

 affecting the nerves of sense ; but in such doses as 

 are used in the laboratory, it paralyses both sets of 

 nerves, and this has actually been proved on man, 

 as there have been cases of accidental curare poison- 

 ing in men who recovered, and in whom sensation 

 has been totally abolished, while the action of the 

 drug was apparent. Moreover, curare is nowadays 

 not used alone, but is always used in combination 

 with morphia, ether, chloroform, or other anaes- 

 thetics." (Professor Ruffer, Liberty Review, October 



1893.) 



" Much indignation has been felt about the use 

 of curare, and the Act of 1876 expressly forbids its 

 use as an anaesthetic. When it is used, it must be 

 supplemented with some other drug to relieve pain. 

 A good deal of misconception exists as to the 



