346 HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 
The bills now before Congress Would, if passed, centralize in a government 
agency the power to approve or reject a research project; the power through 
authority delegated to inspectors, to make decisions concerning the progress of 
projects which it had approved ; the power to specify in detail the requirements 
provided in the certificate of compliance, which are now very indefinite, and to 
make subsequent changes in these requirements without an amendment of the 
law, if sufficient political pressure could be brought to bear. 
Concerning, for example, the matter of what constitutes a cruel or painful 
experiment there is the case of Gregerson and Root, who, in 1940, were re- 
quested by the Subcommittee on Shock of the Committee on Medical Research, 
Office of Research Development, United States, to make a study of the difficult 
problem of traumatic shock. As a result of their research, there was a dramatic 
improvement in the treatment of battle and air-raid casualties suffering from 
shock, and as a consequence, thousands of lives were saved. Did they receive the 
gratitude they deserved? They did not. Instead their experiments were “con- 
demned as shocking to a normal human conscience” in a letter to the Lancet (Au- 
gust 1949) signed by Major Hume and five other members of the Universities 
Federation for Animal Welfare. The letter was reproduced, circulated in Eng- 
land by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, and there is evidence 
that it was circulated in this country by the proponents of these bills. If the 
signatories of the letter had had any personal experiences themselves of shock, if 
they had carried out any experimental work on shock, or had even been familiar 
with the literature, they would have realized that there is little pain associated 
with shocklike states. (Ref. Journal of the Research Defense Society, England, 
1953.) 
The bills before Congress, notwithstanding the humane objectives stated in 
their preamble, would, if passed, seriously slow down or impede research and 
would discourage the recruitment of promising young men and women into ca- 
reers of research and teaching in medicine. They could work with scientific 
freedom in other fields. 
Such bills, even if not so desired would, if passed, become an entering wedge 
for obtaining further restrictive legislation through amendments. Such efforts 
would be expected. 
Such a law would invite agitation to obtain restrictive State legislation since 
there is an even greater volume of research being done with the support of 
State and private funds, that would not be subject to the provisions of the law. 
If we are to learn from history, the history of the British law, both in its 
inception and its consequences, is enlightening. 
' Woodmeee, Long Island, N.Y. 
Dear Sir: I attended the Chicago Medical School this past September. I 
withdrew of my own accord from this school. One of the conditions which led 
to my contempt towards this school was the cruel treatment that was given to 
the experimental animals up there. The facilities for these animals were not 
only inadequate but, in addition, some of the people who handled these ani- 
mals definitely appeared to have sadistic tendencies. I was not alone in my 
beliefs since many of the other students up there felt as I did and were also 
horrified at the conditions which these animals were forced to withstand. I could 
give you further evidence of my feelings, but I believe this is sufficient for the 
present. I sincerely hope that you investigate what I have told you and that 
you are able to do something to improve these conditions. Feel free to write me 
concerning any further questions which you might have in connection with the 
Chicago Medical School (710 South Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, 111.). 
1 have just read about the twin bills calling for humane treatment of animals 
used in medical experiments, which have been introduced in both the Senate 
and House, I hope that these bills are passed. Will you be kind enough to send 
me your leaflets on these bills. 
Sincerely yours, 
Ivan L. Rubin. 
