REVIEW. 
611 
my professional province to exert my utmost endeavours to alleviate their 
sufferings; I cannot, therefore, but have long since felt, and most deeply 
felt, the advantages accruing to society from the efforts of this very laudable 
institution. (Cheers.) I assure you that the cruelty to which I have been 
a witness, inflicted upon animals under the specious plea of the furtherance of 
scientific pursuits has, on many occasions, caused me much pain, for I may 
be permitted to say, in this assembly, that there is no occasion to inflict the 
severe suffering to which animals are frequently subjected, with a view of 
determining physiological and pathological results. (Loud cheers.) The 
same experiments which, from time to time, have been performed, have not 
unfrequently been followed by very different phenomena, and, under these 
circumstances they have tended rather to confuse, in my opinion, than to sub- 
stantiate and advance medical science. A practical experience in these 
matters, extending over more than a quarter of a century, has led me to the 
conclusion that the varied symptoms and results of disease itself afford to 
the physiologist sufficient opportunity to contemplate and determine with 
reference to physiological facts. (Hear.) I am of opinion that no valid plea 
can be advanced for the performance of vivisections, nothing can warrant 
men in inflicting such acts of cruelty on the lower animals. It is perfectly 
true that many of them are given to us by an all-wise providence for our 
nourishment and support, and, in a measure, to contribute to our luxuries ; 
but it is not true that we have any right, in the exercise of our authority 
over them, to inflict upon them any unnecessary pain, or protracted suffering. 
W e should at all times reflect that, although not endowed with the power 
of reason and of speech, they are, nevertheless, possessed of a nervous sys- 
tem equally susceptible to pain with that which belongs to ourselves. 
(Cheers.) That this Society has been attended with very great advantages 
there cannot be a doubt, but I am of opinion that there is yet work for us to 
do, if we all of us exert our individual and collective efforts in carrying out 
its objects. Not one of us can walk in the streets of London and see the 
poor animals that are daily used in our public vehicles without being im- 
pressed with the fact that much cruelty, in spite of our efforts to repress it, 
is still inflicted upon them. Unfortunately, hitherto, the advantages of this 
institution have, I believe, only extended to those cases where wounds have 
been seen to have been inflicted upon the surface of the body of the animal, 
and thereby excited the attention of the casual observer; but there are 
many instances where the animal may be known to suffer, and yet it may 
not give any such external evidence of its disease ; and in my estimation it 
falls within the scope of this Society to extend its protective influence to 
those cases. (Cheers.) 
Again, we wish the Society all prosperity. 
We have just been informed that the directors have 
recently elected, as their Veterinary Surgeon, Mr. Gabriel, 
M.R.C.V.S., and Secretary to the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons. All this is an omen for good, and augur3 well for 
the conduction of the Society. 
