158 
VIVISECTIONS. 
this difficulty than by appointing inspectors to examine the 
meat when it arrives at the different railway-stations, and 
thus to cut off the principal avenues of approach. It is, 
however, gatifying to see that energetic efforts at repression 
are being made even in a more limited sphere. 
“ The success of the first prosecution undertaken is a matter 
of congratulation. The case was very clear. Five rotten 
sheep were seized in one salesman’s shop; of course ‘a most 
respectable man/ as was agreed on both sides. The in¬ 
spector who seized them described them as rotten, and so 
wasted with disease that they did not weigh more than 
eighteen to twenty-five pounds each—less than a fourth of 
what should have been their normal weight. They had been 
sold by a Mr. Firmin to Mr. Dixon, at the rate of 2 \d, per 
pound. Dr. Letheby gave evidence that if such meat got 
into the animal body in a partially cooked state, it produced 
either low’ fever or violent vomiting and purging. On the 
other hand, there was a surprising unanimity of evidence 
amongst a body of salesmen, who declared that the disease 
was hidden when the meat became frozen; that it is common 
for healthy sheep and lambs to be brought to London weigh¬ 
ing not more than seventeen to twenty-five pounds each, and 
to be sold at 2 \cl, per pound. When we add to this fact 
that the defence was conducted by the solicitor of the 
Butchers* Association, we may conclude that it was a very 
healthy example to fine Mr. Firmin £10 ; and it is clear that 
the inspector’s business is not likely to come to an end just 
yet. It is useful, although not agreeable, to know that a body 
of f respectable salesmen’ partake these remarkable opinions, 
and concur in these extraordinary statements as to fact.” 
Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. 
ON VIVISECTIONS. 
In our last volume we felt ourselves called upon, more than 
once or twice, to denounce the cruelties that are frequently 
practised upon animals, under the plea of the advance of 
science. We are aware that the reasons assigned for their 
adoption are the acquirement of sound scientific knowledge, 
connected with physiology or the functions of parts, and the 
ready performance of surgical operations, for both of which 
they may be said to be of more than questionable utility. 
