REPORTS, 1900 



359 



It will be seen, therefore, that in a very large number of 

 instances, especially in the case of experiments performed 

 without the use of anaesthetics, the experiments are entirely 

 painless. Such experiments are performed under license and 

 certificates, because it is impossible to foretell in an individual 

 case whether painful consequences will ensue. Considerable 

 difficulty is also frequently experienced in deciding whether a 

 contemplated procedure is calculated to give pain or not, and 

 in such doubtful cases the experimenter applies for a license, 

 and procures the certificates necessary to cover his proceedings. 



During the past year the attention of the Secretary of 

 State was called to certain experiments in which animals were 

 deprived of food for variable periods. The licensee explained 

 that he did not deem these experiments to be within the scope 

 of the Act 39 and 40 Vict. c. 77. Inasmuch as a full account 

 of these experiments was published in 1896, and they were 

 not brought to the notice of the Secretary of State at the 

 time, it was decided that it was too late to institute proceed- 

 ings with a view to determining whether these experiments 

 came under the Act or not. At the same time, the Secretary 

 of State expressed his opinion that experiments involving 

 starvation to an extent calculated to cause pain were un- 

 doubtedly within the Act. 



The large increase in the number of inoculation experi- 

 ments included in Table III. (B.) is mainly due to the growing 

 appreciation of their great value as a means of detecting, 

 curing, and preventing disease. Inoculations for the purpose 

 of diagnosis are now part of the routine of medical practice ; 

 during the year 1900, 2230 inoculations were made by three 

 licensees for the purpose of standardising antitoxins, and over 

 1500 inoculations were made by two licensees for the testing 

 of milk. These experiments are performed in large numbers 

 on behalf of the authorities responsible for the care of the 

 Public Health, including the Local Government Board, 

 County Councils, and Municipal Corporations. 



The appearance of bubonic plague in this country has 

 afforded an illustration of the value of the experimental method 

 in diagnosis. It is of the greatest importance that this disease 

 should be recognised as early as possible, This can only be 



