398 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
It is to be feared, moreover, that too often some fancied 
theory has to be bolstered up; and the experimenter, becom¬ 
ing enthusiastic, bends and twists the result to suit his pur¬ 
pose. Then some one who is fond of disputation, or one 
who may even take the higher ground — love of truth? 
demurs both to the manner in which the experiment has 
been performed, and to the deductions from it; and he 
repeats it in his way, and thus another poor unconscious 
brute is made to writhe under the surgeon’s knife. Here, 
again, we quote from our cotemporary :— Cf We do not think 
that it is necessary to illustrate physiological truths by 
vivisections whenever physiology is taught. When once a 
physiological truth has been firmly established by the united 
testimony of physiological experimentalists and writers, 
their testimony is, in our opinion, quite sufficient for ordinary 
pupils.” We are quite contented to accept this position. 
We might further object to the kind of animals experi¬ 
mented on, believing that from this errors often arise, since 
where similarity of structure is not, there cannot be simi¬ 
larity of function. Again, there is a peculiar susceptibility in 
some animals to be acted upon very different to that pos¬ 
sessed by others. 
It is true— 
“ If man’s convenience, health, 
Or safety interfere, his rights and claims 
Are paramount, and must extinguish theirs.” 
Yet we have still to learn that corresponding benefits 
have resulted from the many and repeated experiments made 
on the lower animals, whose consciousness of kindness in¬ 
tended, even when operations are being performed on them, is 
exemplified in the following instances, as well as many others 
that are recorded among ‘anecdotes of animals.’ 
“ A scientific friend once mentioned to the writer a very fine in¬ 
stance of self-command, and of generous confidence in the real tender¬ 
ness of the hand that was inflicting pain. The informant, an inspector 
of army hospitals, was with a branch of our forces in India at the time 
referred to. There was a magnificent elephant, of the largest size, 
attached to the artillery corps. The noble creature was suffering from 
