66 HUMANE TREATMENT OP ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 
Animal experimentation has done much and will do more to help 
in the advance of medicine and surgery in this country. I should be 
completely opposed to anything which would interfere with bona fide 
use of experimental animals by competent personnel. 
I have great respect for and love of dogs. For all that experi- 
mental animals do in their own way to help in medicine and surgery 
they should be treated and cared for in as an humane way as possible. 
Mrs. Griffiths’ bill would provide for such. 
I am well aware of the objections raised by medical research groups 
but am completely baffled by the reasons given for these objections. 
One would think the purpose of this bill were to prohibit animal ex- 
perimentation and that it were sponsored by antivivisectionists. This 
is certainly not the case. 
Is it not perfectly reasonable to provide adequate and comfortable 
space, food, and water for animals used in experimental work? 
There should be no objection from any source to the use of anes- 
thesia except where such use would interfere with the experiment. 
Complete and accurate records are characteristic of good research 
and therefore would inflict no burden. 
Certification for licensure of personnel is reasonable and will im- 
pose no hardship. 
Mrs. Christine Stevens, of the Animal Welfare Institute, has, and 
is, honestly and courageously working in support of this bill. She 
has no hidden motives, is not interested in slowing or stifling experi- 
mental work in medicine and surgery, and is not an antivivisectionist. 
Her only interest is in the protection of animals against thoughtless 
abuse and mistreatment. For this she has been, I am sorry to say, 
very rudely treated by persons and groups who completely misinter- 
pret her philosophy and goals. She should instead be vigorously 
applauded and thanked by everyone interested in both medicine and 
animals. 
Mrs. Stevens’ father, Dr. Gesell, was professor of physiology at 
the University of Michigan Medical School. 
Dr. John H. Lyons was one of the great surgeons of this country, 
dean of Washington surgery, and president of the District of Co- 
lumbia Medical Society. As .fellow surgical staff members of the 
Washington Clinic we had many opportunities to discuss the need 
for and merits of this proposed legislation. He died in February of 
this year. 
Dr. Lyons planned to appear as a witness favoring this bill. In 
June 1960, he wrote to our mutual friend, Mrs. Frank A. West, a 
member of the District Animal Allocation Board, in behalf of the 
then proposed Senate bill S. 3570 : 
Dear Mrs. West : Thank you very much for your letters. As you know, I am 
a great lover of dogs, and want to do everything I can for them. However, 
I am on my vacation for a long period and I cannot make any promises as to 
personal appearances in the near future in regard to Senate hill S. 3570. 
While the use of experimental animals to advance our knowledge in medicine 
is right and necessary, we should and must treat the animals as humanely as 
possible, and I believe that the Senate bill S. 3570 is a good and reasonable 
bill, and I sincerely hope that it will be passed. 
Of course, you may use this letter in any way you wish. 
Congresswoman Griffiths’ bill, II. A. 1937, will not impair respon- 
sible medical and surgical research but will help make us more mind- 
