Vivisection. 
3^9 
1876.] 
ought, in our opinion, at least to be held decisive of the 
whole question. What, in opposition to such solid fadts, 
are the hysterical utterances of Maenads who proclaim that 
their “ hearts,” and possibly other vital organs, are sick ? 
Let no one say that we are advising to do evil that good may 
come ; that which yields such essential services to the whole 
human race cannot be declared evil by any one, except he 
denies to man any rights over the brute creation whatsoever. 
The Royal Commissioners point out that most important 
researches, involving experimentation upon animal life, are 
now in progress. These relate to some of the “severest 
scourges which afflidt the human race,” such as cholera, 
consumption, blood-poisoning, typhoid, the bites of poisonous 
serpents. Are such investigations to be suspended ? Were 
we prone to sensationalism, we might paint the shades of 
the thousands of our fellow-subjedts who yearly perish in 
India from the bite of the thanatophidia hovering over the 
couch of the anti-vivisedtionist fanatic, and shrieking in his 
ear that they might have been saved had he not begrudged 
the death of a few rabbits and guinea-pigs. No" one can 
abhor more than do we the infliction of any wanton torment 
upon animals. We even objedt to all avoidable destruction 
of vegetable life. But if a remedy for the bite of the cobra 
alone could be found, we should consider it cheap if all the 
guinea-pigs in creation had been used up over the discovery. 
There are those who declare that, rather than owe their 
life, or that of their children, to methods elaborated in such 
a manner, they are willing to die. It may be so, and we do 
not dispute their right to decide thus for themselves ; but 
we entirely deny their right to speak for others. When 
they attempt this, when they seek to suppress vivisedtion, 
they fight — as humanitarians are very apt to do — not for 
liberty, but for supremacy. They seek to deprive others, 
who are not willing to die so long as a remedy can be found, 
of a source of benefit and safety. 
But the boast of rejecting improved medical treatment 
founded upon the results of vivisedtion is idle and empty. 
They cannot, if they were to make the attempt. It is 
scarcely too much to say that whenever they consult a 
medical pradtitioner they enjoy more or less, and diredtly or 
indiredtly, the benefits of discoveries made in this denounced 
manner. Can they efface from the mind of their physician 
or surgeon his knowledge of the circulation of the blood and 
all its consequences ? Can they call up from their graves 
the ante- and anti-Harveians to treat their diseases ? Surely, 
then, they are in a false position. They quench their thirst 
at a stream, and yet would seal up its springs ! 
