The Vivisection Question (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from The Vivisection Question

I. By Vivisection is meant experimentation of any kind, painful or painless, made upon a living creature for an alleged scientific purpose.

II. Within certain limitations and to a certain extent, the utility of animal experimentation makes it justifiable and right.

III. The abuses to which the practice is liable are so great, that vivisection should be regulated by law, and placed under the control and supervision of the State.

In order to prove need of the legal regulation here advocated, it has been necessary to refer to cruelties and abuses, incident to the practice as now carried on. The revelation of these has induced criticism; but I cannot see how otherwise, there could be adduced any proof of necessity for legal control.

In one respect, the task made necessary by controversy on this subject has been exceedingly distasteful. It is by no means a pleasant literary employment to point out the inaccuracies or to demonstrate the blunders made bv men of national repute in their opposition to the regula tion of experimentation. But no fact is more clearly apparent than that too eager laudation of vivisection without control has evoked a carelessness of statement.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Vivisection Question

The present work consists mainly of reprints of essays and criticisms pertaining to a subject of perennial controversy. A few years ago it occurred to me that my personal acquaintance with vivisection, both in this country and in Europe, justified an effort to reconcile certain opposing views. The opening essay in this volume embodied that attempt, and everything written since has been based upon the same endeavor.

I wish that the purport of this book were less certain to be misstated or misjudged, and principally by critics who have no excuse for such misjudgment. Of those who glance at the title, many will doubtless conclude without further examination, that it is written from the standpoint of antivivisection or of antipathy to all scientific investigation upon living creatures. On the contrary, I think a distinct line may be drawn, separating what may be permitted from that which ought to be condemned. The entire abolition of animal experimentation, I cannot conceive as possible of present realization. or until an age dawns when all sacrifice of animal life for food or raiment shall be equally abhorrent to civilization. When a writer asserts - as in an article before me, - that "vivisection is the most atrocious of crimes," what meaning. I wonder, does he attach to his words?

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.