352 



ACT 39 AND 40 VIC. C. 77 



It will be noticed that the number of experiments included 

 in Table III. (A.) shows an increase in comparison with the 

 number in 1898 (15 11), while those included in Table III. 

 (B.) have diminished (6813 against 7640). This is in some 

 measure due to the transference of a certain class of inocula- 

 tions, mainly for the diagnosis of rabies, from Table III. (B.) 

 to Table III. (A.). The total number of experiments (8469) is 

 somewhat less that in 1898 (9151). 



During the year the usual inspections of registered places 

 have been made by Dr Poore, Sir James Russell, and myself, 

 and have been severally reported. These inspections have 

 generally been made without notice, the only exceptions in 

 this respect being in cases where it was desired for some 

 reason to meet the licensees at their registered places. I 

 have on several occasions seen animals under experiment, 

 always in a state of profound anaesthesia. The animals being 

 experimented on under Certificates A and B have been care- 

 fully examined, and among the large number that I have 

 seen there have been none showing any signs of pain. The 

 guinea-pigs and rabbits for example, which have been inocu- 

 lated under Certificate A for the testing of antitoxins, for 

 the diagnosis of disease, and so forth, are generally indis- 

 tinguishable from the untouched animals in stock ; and in 

 most cases that have come under my notice of animals oper- 

 ated on under Certificate B, it would be quite impossible, apart 

 from the scar or healing wound, to recognise that anything 

 had been done to them. 



I have found the licensees in all cases desirous of acting 

 in strict accordance with the spirit as well as the letter both 

 of the Act and of the special conditions attached to their 

 licenses ; and the instances of irregularity which it has been 

 my duty to bring to your notice may be termed accidental, 

 having been due either to misunderstanding or inadvertence. 

 They are as follows : — 



A licensee who held Certificates A and E (dispensing with 

 anaesthetics) performed two experiments which were required 

 in the discharge of his duties as Medical Officer of Health, but 

 which were not covered by the terms of his certificates. He 

 reports that the animals suffered no pain ; and the failure to 



