114 
Translations and Ee views of Continental 
Veterinary Journals. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
Journal des Veterinaires du Midi , Oct., 1863. 
DISCUSSION ON VIVISECTION IN THE ACADEMY OE 
MEDICINE. 
The question of vivisection has during the last month 
been the subject of discussion at the Imperial Academy of 
Medicine, which has had considerable publicity ( retentisse - 
merit), and the conclusion of which might be considered as 
a new victory obtained by common sense and science. 
The origin of this discussion was the steps taken by the 
London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a 
committee of which had an interview with the Emperor of 
the French about two and a half years ago. But the form 
in which the complaint was made compromised the cause it 
was intended to serve. The Government, however, before 
answering the grievance expressed by the committee to the 
Emperor, officially enjoined the Academy to answer the 
following questions:—1st. Are there any foundations for 
the complaints made by the Preventive Society concerning 
the practice of vivisection in France ? 2nd. Is there any 
occasion to take them into consideration ? 3rd. Is any¬ 
thing to be done; and if so, by what measures ? 
The committee counted amongst its members MM. 
Claquet, Cruveilhier, Robin, Claude Bernard, Renault, Le¬ 
blanc, &c., five members out of the nine belonging to the 
Societe 'protective des Animaux of Paris. 
They undertook to show that the vivisections, as practised 
in our schools, are not inhuman and abominable; nor are 
they those monstrous cruelties, the shame of civilization and 
an outrage to nature and God, they had been stated to be. 
The assertion that in France these vivisections are prolonged 
to satisfy a vitiated pleasure has been strongly repudiated, 
as, far from purposely prolonging the sufferings of the 
animals, it is customary to render these sufferings as short as 
possible, or to mitigate them by the use of chloroform, ether, 
narcotics, cold, &c. 
M. Moquin-Tandon, the reporter of the commission, having 
died suddenly, M. Robin was charged with the reading of 
this report, of which the conclusions are as follows: — 
Vivisections are indispensable to the progress of physi¬ 
ology, and the operations on living animals are necessary for 
the study of veterinary operative surgery. 
