i 882.] Advancement of Medicine by Research . 265 
for the further restriction of research know that, when next 
they appear before a constituency, the vote and influence of 
all medical and scientific men, irrespective of party, will be 
given against them. Similar steps ought to be taken as 
regards appointments to professorships, to medical offices, 
and as regards the membership of learned societies. The 
anti-viviseCtionists have long since employed these or similar 
weapons against the friends of biological research. One of 
their stratagems, however, we do not recommend to be 
turned against them. We mean anonymous letters. 
Our enemies have freely made use of this cowardly 
means of annoying gentlemen supposed to be engaged in 
physiological research, or known as its defenders. Indeed 
the loud demands for the names of those to whom licenses 
for experimentation have been granted find here their ex- 
planation. The appeals for publicity mean “ Give us the 
names of these men that we may try to instil prejudices into 
the minds of their patients ! ” Of such weapons Science 
cannot stoop to avail herself. But in other respeCts the war 
must be “to the utterance.” 
A further important point should be to obtain the opinion 
of the most eminent Counsel upon the ACt. No one who is 
engaged in the study of animal life at all knows exactly 
when and where he is safe. This should be ascertained as 
clearly as possible. It is said that there is no ACt of Parlia- 
ment through which legal skill is not able to drive a coach 
and four. 
Sir William Jenner, indeed, formally disclaimed any desire 
to “ evade the Law.” On this head opinions differ. Re- 
garding the Law as a barrier to the progress of Science, we 
should pronounce any practicable evasion not merely justifi- 
able, but laudable. The anti-vaccinationists and the 
“ Peculiar People ” are carrying their points by this very 
stratagem of evading, and even defying, the Law. 
Looking seriously and calmly at the entire position, we 
cannot help regarding the formation of the Association for 
the Advancement of Medical Science as unsatisfactory. 
Fanatics, we submit, can only be routed if encountered with 
a resolution as uncompromising as their own. 
For the thorough-going friends of Science there are, as it 
appears to us, two courses open : we may retire from the 
struggle in disgust, and hope that perhaps some unforeseen 
change may alter the present deplorable position ; or, as 
there are several societies for attacking research, may there 
not be two, at least, for its defence ? Suppose that a Bio- 
logical Research Defence League is formed, open to all men, 
VOL, iv. (third series). t 
