HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 181 
Dr. Thorp. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out to 
members of this committee that I have in the past 4 years participated 
in about 160 project site visits to institutions of all types. This was 
part of my duties as a member of the National Advisory Health Re- 
search Facilities Council of the Public Health Service. This council 
is responsible for awarding matching grants for health related re- 
search facilities to medical and biological research institutions. 
It has been my observation that there has been a marked improve- 
ment in the animal facilities due to this building program, as many 
of these grants include modern, up-to-date animal facilities. 
In final summary I would like to make several points. The legis- 
lation proposed here would permit an unwanted encroachment upon 
research workers’ freedom in conducting research. This legislation 
would require expensive, massive and a totally unnecessary laboratory 
machinery. This legislation would delay the testing of new concepts 
and ideas. Witness the thalidomide situation. It would hinder and 
restrict medical and biological research, retarding our progress ; that 
the object of the humane use of laboratory animals in the best interest 
of man and animals can be obtained by making funds available to 
further study the needs of laboratory animal care by encouraging 
serious research of a high level on these problems. 
Veterinarians are employed by many medical centers in the field of 
animal care. 
I am sure that the committee will give every consideration to this 
survey report that I have presented to you which is based upon my 
observations and experience. 
Thank you. 
Mr. Roberts. Thank you, Dr. Thorp. 
I believe you mentioned a survey team as having compiled this 
report, finalizing it in May of 1962 of this year. 
Dr. Thorp. Yes. The list of the survey team is on the back page 
of the report. 
Mr. Roberts. Let me ask you this : How many schools and labora- 
tories did the team visit, approximately ? 
Dr. Thorp. A total of 58 were actually visited. The next report, 
will include the mailing of questionnaires, based on about 500. 
Mr. Roberts. Do you think that there has been a good many in- 
stances of cruelty and inadequate care and improper buildings and 
facilities for animals used for research ? 
Dr. Thorp. It is my impression from the opinions of the visiting 
teams that there was no evidence of cruelty. True, you will have 
different qualities, good, fair, poor, and so forth, in various institu- 
tions, as pointed out, dependent upon their support. 
Mr. Roberts. Are most of these institutions visited recipients of 
Government grants in one form or another, project grants, institu- 
tional grants, building grants ? 
Dr. Thorp. I would say that most of these institutions have re- 
ceived project grants. Some of the institutions undoubtedly have 
received building grants. You might break down the institutions 
that were visited, and there would be 8 veterinary schools, 35 med- 
ical and dental schools, 5 laboratories, foundation laboratories, and 
8 research hospitals. I believe all of these would have received some 
project grant money. 
