i88i.] The Recent “ Vivisection ” Case. 733 
annoyance. We must, therefore, beg to propose that 
aCtion should be taken without delay. The first desirable 
step is to call a meeting of persons interested, in order to 
adopt an address of sympathy with Prof. Ferrier, and to 
originate a subscription for the purpose of re-imbursing him 
for the outlay to which he has been put. Secondly and 
principally, a Biological Defence League should be im- 
mediately organised for the following purposes : — ■ 
1. For obtaining the opinion of eminent counsel upon the 
various provisions of the Vivisection ACt, so that 
experimentalists may know when they are really safe 
and when they are in danger — which at present seems 
a very open question. 
2. For instructing the public and the lay press on the 
real merits of the question by the circulation of traCts 
or by advertisements, &c., refuting the sophisms and 
exposing the inflammatory appeals of our opponents. 
3. For petitioning the Legislature against any further 
restrictions upon physiological experimentation, and 
for rendering the granting of certificates a matter less 
dependent upon the caprice of the Home Secretary 
for the time being than it now appears to be. 
4. For defending any person prosecuted under the Vivi- 
section ACt. 
5. For counteracting and frustrating the system of 
espionage carried on by the Anti-ViviseCtion 
Societies. 
6. For obtaining from all the Medical Faculties and 
Learned Societies of the United Kingdom, a formal 
Protest against the hysterical and inconsistent agita- 
tion now carried on. 
There are many other duties which the proposed Defence 
League might undertake with advantage, and with a fair 
prospeCt of success, but to which it would be premature to 
call public attention. Surely in a matter of such importance 
all differences and distinctions should be waived, and 
biologists of all grades and views, medical or non-medical, 
evolutionists or advocates of distinct creation, animists or 
materialists, friends of official Science or of independent 
Science, ought to aCt together in unity. It must not be 
supposed that even the total abolition of experiments upon 
living animals will satisfy our opponents. They will next 
aim at the prohibition of killing animals for scientific 
purposes. The possession of serpents and other animals 
which require to be fed with living prey has been already 
objected to. 
