684 
editorial observations. 
Veterinary College; and hetacombs of poor animals, we 
doubt not, have been offered at the shrine of science, without 
any corresponding good resulting to mankind from the sacri- 
fice. All this has only tended to strengthen our objections, 
since we do not believe man has any right whatever thus to 
misuse God’s creatures ; they were made for man’s use, but 
not for his abuse. How common is it for the experimental 
physiologist, being ignorant of the function of some organ, 
to extirpate it ; and because the poor animal has afterwards 
eked out a miserable existence, or perhaps grown fat, from 
being well fed and confined, the experimenter has sagely 
come to the conclusion that the organ could be done without ! 
As if the creature was wiser than the Creator; the thing 
formed than He that formed it. 
Again and again we have been solicited to lend our aid in 
these experiments, but we have firmly refused it. With what 
others have done we have been more than content, believing, 
as we have before said, that as the lower animals were made 
for the use of man, so, when a definite object is in view, and 
one which could not otherwise be attained, we have a right 
to make use of them ; but even then not to put them to un- 
necessary pain, far less torture, their feelings being as ex- 
quisite as our own ; the information however being once ac- 
quired, we are not justified in going any further, by repeating 
again and again the same experiments, for the satisfaction 
either of ourselves or a class of students, since this would 
amount to an abuse and a cruelty. 
We believe that the greatest benefit which has of late 
resulted is the certain detection of this peculiar alkaloid 
(strychnine) after death, so that it will be less likely hereafter 
to be resorted to as a poisoning agent than formerly. This 
is well for the ends of justice. In the pointed language of 
Dr. Macadam, in his “ suggestion ” to the poisoner, “ were he, 
as knave chemist, ” he says, “ asked with what substance he 
(the poisoner) could most surely get rid of his victim, and at 
the same time escape the hands of justice, he would say to 
him, c Take this poison, or that, or the other ; but, as you 
value your life, my good fellow, don’t you try strychnine.’ ” 
