1278 
THE USE OF ANIMALS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION 
tonight is very necessary to correct some of 
these inadequacies. 
I think it is appropriate that we include as 
part of our presentation an examination of cer- 
tain practices in the laboratory involving re- 
search animals. The purpose is to examine 
w^hether we are providing the necessary labora- 
tory organization not only to accomplish the 
necessary goals of scientific achievement, but 
the best use of laboratory animals in these goals. 
I am speaking in relation to experimental pro- 
tocols involving animals in research. At this 
time regulations of the animal welfare law do 
not affect the experimental protocol. The law 
specifically exempts experimental design or 
activity from regulation. In this country, the 
investigator has the privilege of using, in a 
humane way, laboratory animals at his discre- 
tion. I feel that there should not be limitations 
of this privilege except when an investigator 
fails to recognize and correct inadequate tech- 
niques that, while humane, cause unnecessary 
use and loss of animals. When we allow condi- 
tions, practices, poor techniques to exist that 
are not advantageous for the expediency of bio- 
medical research, we have to respond with 
what it takes to correct our deficiency. 
Many of us feared the enactment of the law 
last year that regulates the care of animals in- 
volved in research, not so much because of 
inadequate facilities that we could replace in 
suflficient time, but probably because of the 
exposure of inadequate techniques as well as 
technical and professional staff maintaining 
animals in our laboratory. The law now requires 
that a yearly report be submitted listing in- 
tended experimentation that will involve ani- 
mals exposed to "pain" without benefit of anal- 
gesics, tranquilizers, or anesthetics, along with 
a verification that all other animals exposed to 
pain are treated with proper drugs and dosages 
of these drugs. 
Animal welfare legislation has the support of 
"we the people" primarily because unnecessary 
abuse of animals in the laboratory as well as 
other locations has been recognized. Other de- 
ficiencies exist ! What are we going to do about 
them? 
Cruelty to laboratory animals can be repre- 
sented by the misuse of animals in experimenta- 
tion. Here are some examples that now exist: 
The use of unhealthy animals in experiments; 
failure to select the proper species; failure to 
have a protocol adequate to cover the extent 
of an animal's involvement in an experiment; 
failure to have qualified technicians and profes- 
sional assistance; the production of mislead- 
ing information from misuse ; failing to accom- 
plish experiments with the minimum number 
of animals required; inadequate post-operative 
treatment; inaccurate clinical evaluation of the 
recovered animal at a particular stage of ex- 
perimentation and so on. 
Our concern with these examples should be- 
gin before experimentation is underway. Con- 
cern should range from not only the justification 
for using animals for an experiment, but the 
selection of the best suited species for the area 
of research to be attempted. We must have a 
holding facility that is sufficient for holding 
the animal species whether it is overnight or for 
an indefinite period of time. There must be 
available an animal care staff capable of prop- 
erly maintaining the species. It is necessary that 
we start with a normal animal — one that is of 
good health and shows no signs of infection, 
malnutrition, or physical deformity as deter- 
mined by a qualified professional staff member. 
We must have adequate laboratory prepara- 
tion before scheduling the procedure. This 
includes equipment, drugs, experienced techni- 
cians, as well as an investigative staff capable of 
performing the desired technique and properly 
maintaining the animal. If post-operative survi- 
val is part of the protocol, necessary prepara- 
tions for post-operative treatment and recovery 
have to be arranged. Qualified personnel must 
be available to treat the animal symptomati- 
cally, not only during surgical recovery, but 
during the duration of its maintenance in the 
laboratory. Consideration has to be given for 
extra precautions necessary for the manage- 
ment of the implantation of artificial devices 
as compared to simple thoracotomies. The post- 
operative technique should include a daily re- 
cording of all recovery events including body 
temperature, blood chemistries, appetite, as 
well as necessary treatments. This is neces- 
sary for evaluating recovery events of animals 
before physiological data is to be subsequently 
