HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 319 
Since 1953, the National Research Council-National Academy of Sciences has 
had a subdivision, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, devoted to 
the collection and dissemination of information regarding laboratory animal 
breeding, shipping, and handling. The Institute has just completed a survey 
of the organization of laboratory animal care in institutions across the country. 
The survey also included an inventory of facilities presently used for animal 
studies. 
A committee of the National Society for Medical Research works on sugges- 
tions for experimental procedures that will protect laboratory animals against 
avoidable discomfort. A staff member of the society handles the exchange of 
information on the design and equiping of animal laboratories. The NSMR 
supplies laboratories throughout the Nation with large placards of “Principles 
of Laboratory Animal Care.” 
The Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Psychological 
Association, the American Physiological Society, and several other scientific 
groups have committees concerned with the promotion of better laboratory ani- 
mal care. In every case there is the dual objective of humanitarianism and 
scientific efficiency. 
In Washington, D.C., several years ago a group of humane society leaders 
formed a new organization called WARDS, which stands for “welfare of ani- 
mals used for research in drugs and surgery.” The first project of the new group 
was to collect more than $20,000 toward the building of a fine new animal house 
at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and Dentistry. The univer- 
sity and the U.S. Government provided the balance. 
The WARDS creed is that the relief of suffering through medical science and 
the relief of suffering through humane works are complementary tasks and that 
the antivivisection controversies of years past obstructed real progress. The 
spectacular progress in laboratory animal care that has been made in recent 
years since the antivivisection cause lost most of its power seems to confirm the 
idea held by the founders of WARDS. 
Says Dr. Hiram E. Essex, of the Mayo Clinic, and president of the National 
Society for Medical Research : “The threat of abolition of animal experimenta- 
tion had to be defeated before optimum progress in laboratory animal care could 
be made. How could the dean of the medical school in a State university, for 
instance, go before the legislature and ask for funds for good animal care when 
he was afraid that the very mention of the use of animals in medical studies 
might lead to the virtual shutting down of some departments of the school?” 
Fortunately no medical administrator today need hesitate to ask the best for 
the animals that are the living subjects for tomorrow’s new medicines and new 
surgery. The contributions of animal research have been too dramatic to be 
seriously questioned in recent years, and people are learning that even a multi- 
million-dollar animal house is good economy when it means quicker results in 
solving problems of life or death. 
Statement of the American Dental Association Submitted by Dr. Alfred 
E. Smith, Member, Council on Legislation 
The American Dental Association favors any reasonable effort to assure that 
laboratory animals receive humane treatment. The association does not believe, 
however, that enactment of H.R. 1937 or H.R. 3556 is desirable or necessary. 
The association is convinced that at the present time, the overwhelming 
majority of health research institutions require proper care and treatment of 
animals. The association is also aware that in dental research institutions, im- 
provements in animal care facilities and in the handling of experimental animals 
constantly are being made. 
No one seriously questions the need for and the obligation of the healing pro- 
fessions to employ animals as well as human beings for the development of meth- 
ods to relieve human suffering. This is true with respect to research involving- 
oral diseases as well as other diseases. All dental schools and other dental re- 
search institutions in the country are engaged to some extent in research involv- 
ing the use of animals and the benefits to humanity that have and will continue 
to flow from these efforts are many and varied. 
The dedicated scientists who work in health research are motivated with a 
desire to serve humanity, to relieve and prevent suffering and to prolong life. 
They have the highest respect for the animals which they must employ in their 
important experimental work. It is the rule in research institutions that ani- 
