An Ethical Problem Part 27

The Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection, together with the evidence produced before it, const.i.tutes the most important doc.u.ment relating to the subject which has appeared in a quarter of a century.

It is greatly to be regretted that the author of "Animal Experimentation" should have given his readers no idea whatsoever of this report, except a warning of two sentences, that could have been meant for England alone. By omission of all its other conclusions, especially those relating to painful experiments, has the author been fair to his readers? Do such significant omissions ill.u.s.trate an impartial reliability that commands our admiration? Does it denote an accuracy that should inspire our trust?

IV.

What judgment does the author pa.s.s upon scientific experimentation upon human beings? In his volume on animal vivisection, he has reprinted various articles on the subject written by himself during a controversy which raged quite fiercely at the beginning of the present century; of course in his book we find nothing of the points made against his arguments by his various opponents of that day. The subject is an important one, and some day will have a volume devoted to its discussion.

In the eighteenth chapter of the present work, a careful distinction is drawn between those phases of experimentation upon man which seem to be entirely proper, and those other phases which ought to be condemned:

"It is of course to be expected, that certain experimenters upon human beings will endeavour to confound both phases of inquiry in the public estimation; yet there is no difficulty in drawing clear distinctions between them.

I. Any intelligently devised experiment upon an adult human being, conscientiously performed by a responsible physician or surgeon solely for the personal benefit of the individual upon whom it is made, and, if practicable, with his consent, would seem to be legitimate and right.... So long as the amelioration of the patient is the one purpose kept in view, it is legitimate treatment.

II. Human vivisection is something different. It has been defined as the practice of submitting to experimentation human beings, usually inmates of public inst.i.tutions, by methods liable to involve pain, distress, injury to health or even danger to life, without any full, intelligent personal consent, for no object relating to their individual benefit, but for the prosecution of some scientific inquiry.... THE OBJECT IS SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION, AND NOT THE PERSONAL WELFARE OR AMELIORATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL UPON WHOM THE EXPERIMENT IS MADE."[1]

[1] Pp. 289-290.

All distinctions of this kind the author of "Animal Experimentation"

apparently sweeps aside. A writer suggested that upon natives of India who, when bitten by poisonous serpents, almost invariably die, there would be no objection to trying "every variety of antidote that can be discovered." This humane suggestion the author of "Animal Experimentation" holds up as "FLAT-FOOTED ADVOCACY OF HUMAN VIVISECTION!" The absurdity of such p.r.o.nouncement must be evident to everyone of common sense. We should think very little of any surgeon confronted with the case of a native suffering from a snake-bit, who, finding ordinary remedies of no avail, refused to try "EVERY VARIETY OF ANTIDOTE THAT CAN BE DISCOVERED." This is not the "human vivisection" to which objection is made; for such experimentation is for the personal benefit of the man himself.

Take, for ill.u.s.tration, the experiments made by the author of "Animal Experimentation" and other investigators some years since, upon soldiers in an Army hospital. The author of the pamphlet which first brought these experiments on soldiers before the public, states distinctly that "just so far as the experiments were made upon suffering men IN THE HOPE OF GIVING RELIEF FROM PAIN, and at the same time contributing to medical knowledge, THERE CAN BE NOTHING TO CRITICIZE IN ANY WAY."[2] Surely the experimenters should ask no clearer exculpation from all blame, so far as relates to permissible experimentation on man. The critic, however, suggested that in some cases, the enthusiastic experimenters went beyond this, and quotes from the original article the following descriptions of their work:

"We finally entered upon A DELIBERATE COURSE OF EXPERIMENTS with the intention of ascertaining in what respect ... the two drugs in question were antagonistic.... The experiments which we shall now relate were most of them made upon soldiers, who were suffering from painful neuralgic diseases, or from some cause of entailing pain. In some cases, however, CONVALESCENT MEN WERE THE SUBJECTS OF OUR OBSERVATIONS, but in no instance were they allowed to know what agents we used.... SOME WERE MEN IN VERY FAIR HEALTH, suspected of malingering. The patient was kept rec.u.mbent some time before and during the observation."

[2] Taber, "Ill.u.s.trations of Human Vivisection," Chicago, 1906, pp. 13-14.

It is unnecessary to give the full description of these experiments.

We are informed of "series of experiments," of "two other sets of experiments," of the "effect on the eye" or "the effect of the two drugs upon the cerebral functions"; the material was abundant. The reviewer of this experimentation says:

"How these experiments will be palliated and excused it is easy to foretell. We shall undoubtedly be told that all this happened some years ago; that the American soldiers, thus used as material suffered no permanent injury from the experiments to which they were subjected; that the investigators were purely disinterested; that the scientific questions involved were of great interest and that results might possibly have been obtained which would have proved of great service to medical science. But even if we grant all this, and accord to these gentlemen the purest of personal motives, can we say that in such defence they touch the chief point at issue in this matter of human vivisection? Here were a number of human beings who, for a brief period, on account of misfortune, were temporarily in their power.

WHAT MORAL RIGHT had these medical gentlemen thus to experiment upon the eye, the pulse, the brain of a single soldier of the Republic?

... Even granting the utility, who confers upon anyone the moral right to test poisons on his fellow-men?

In his recent work, the author of "Animal Experimentation" refers to these investigations of earlier years, and insists that most of the patients thus operated on "were sorely in need of relief." What, he asks, would his critics have had them do? "Sit idly by, and let these poor fellows suffer torments, because if we tried various drugs we were 'experimenting' on human beings?" Is not this a little disingenuous, in view of the very careful distinctions made by his critic concerning the experiments performed for the relief of suffering men? a.s.suredly, there was no objection to these; it was regarding the "deliberate course of experiments," the "series of experiments" made upon "MEN IN VERY FAIR HEALTH" that criticism was suggested. Were all these experiments upon soldiers in the Army hospital made for the relief of their pains? If so, they undoubtedly deserve our warmest approval. Were any of a purely scientific character, having no regard to the necessities of the individual upon whom they were made? If so, we may leave the question of condemnation or approval to the reader's judgment.

V.

What is the att.i.tude of the author toward cruelty in animal experimentation, or to the secrecy of the laboratory? So far as one can see, there is no admission anywhere that vivisection ever transcends the limits of what is entirely permissible. Except as regards human beings, the word "cruelty" is not found in the index of his work. At one place he tells his readers that "whenever an operation would be painful, an anaesthetic is ALWAYS given";[1] on another page, we read that in modern researches, "ether or other anaesthetics are ALMOST always given."[2] two statements that are slightly incompatible. We are informed that certain American societies have pa.s.sed resolutions favorable to the "UNRESTRICTED performance" of vivisections by proper persons;[3] but the writer neglects to inform his readers that unrestricted and unregulated experimentation of the kind is not only contrary to the law in England, but that it is condemned there by the leaders of the medical profession. We find it apparently implied--but without positive statement--that there is little or no secrecy in animal experimentation, and that anyone may find admittance to a laboratory at any time.[4] So far as England is concerned, this is untrue; and we do not believe that in America a stranger would be welcomed at any physiological laboratory when experimentation by students was going on, although of course there are times when there would be no trouble in obtaining admittance. It would apparently seem that in the opinion of Dr. Keen, animal experimentation is always practised without cruelty or abuse.

[1] "Animal Experimentation," p. 232.

[2] Ibid., p. 245.

[3] Ibid., p. xviii.

[4] Ibid., pp. viii-ix.

A considerable part of the volume under review is devoted to the history of medical progress. Were it not for the unfortunate tendency everywhere to magnify or exaggerate, this part of the book would have had distinct value. Of the advances made by modern surgery, for example, there can be no doubt; it is probable also, that without to some researches upon living animals, the results would not have been attained. This by no means justifies everything that has been done.

The members of the Royal Commission--all of them favourable to vivisection--state the case with scientific restrain. After giving the question full consideration they decide:

"1. That certain results, claimed from time to time to have been proved by experiments upon living animals and alleged to have been beneficial in preventing or curing disease, HAVE, ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND EXPERIENCE, BEEN FOUND TO BE FALLACIOUS OR USELESS.

"2. That notwithstanding such failures, valuable knowledge HAS BEEN ACQUIRED in regard to physiological processes and the causation of disease, and that useful methods for the prevention, cure and treatment of certain diseases have resulted from experimental investigations upon living animals.

"3. That, as far as we can judge, it is highly improbable that without experiments made upon animals, mankind would, at the present time, have been in possession of such knowledge."[1]

[1] Final Report of Royal Commision, p. 47.

It is open, of course, to an antivivisectionist to deny the right of science to profit by the exploitation of animals, but this is not the position of a large number who seek only to prevent the cruelty which has often accompanied it.

The greatest defect of the volume, aside from the points to which allusion has been made, is the exaggerated advocacy that characterizes the work throughout. One can hardly find a dozen pages in which a careful reader would not discover some inaccuracy or over-statement.

If the author had only been content to demonstrate utility within the limits that scientific accuracy prescribes; if everywhere he had been ready to concede--what thirty years ago he so frankly admitted--that vivisection was a "MANY-SIDED QUESTION;"[1] if he had admitted anywhere that in the past excesses have taken place, and that the practice has sometimes been carried to unjustifiable extremes which should be condemned; if he had contented himself with pointing out the mistakes of the critics of animal experimentation, without impugning their character, or sneering at their efforts to lessen the infliction of pain; if everywhere he had made fair distinctions between the anti- vivisectionists who oppose and condemn all exploitation of animal life, and restrictionists like Dr. Bigelow, Dr. Wilson, Dr. William James, and a host of others who share their views; if, in short, the constant aim of the author had seemed to be, not to secure a polemical success, but reliability as an authority that time would confirm--it is certain that his book would have attained some degree of deserved and lasting repute. For such a result, no reasonable expectation can now be entertained. The unreliability of the volume as an authority will become more and more evident as time goes on, and in the judgment of the world it will gradually find its rightful place.

[1] See first page of "Animal Experimentation."

In bringing to a close this inadequate review of the book something yet remains to be said. It should be unnecessary to repeat that in pointing out literary defects and mistakes, we do not touch the honour of the writer in any way. How can one measure the weight of a life- long prejudice, or determine its influence upon conduct or opinion?

"Tout comprende est tout pardonner." Within a few weeks, the author of "Animal Experimentation," if living, will enter upon his eightieth year. The errors of judgment, the inaccuracies of statement, the tendency to exaggerate utility--these and all other literary defects of the volume before us must be recognized and deplored, but they should be ascribed only to causes which do not affect the honour of the man. We may be confident that after he has pa.s.sed away, the world will quickly forget the too zealous defender of unrestricted vivisection, and remember, finally, only the wise teacher, the skilled surgeon, the trusted friend.

APPENDIX II

In the acquirement of knowledge concerning vivisection, and for the prevention of abuses, it is essential that in every inst.i.tution where experiments are performed a register of all animals received be carefully and accurately kept. Each one should have a serial number, under which all particulars should be entered. The book used for this purpose should have printed in the first column of each double page the required details concerning which a record is to be kept; the blanks should be written in ink by someone responsible for its accuracy. Some such form as the following outline might perhaps be used for such register:

REGISTER OF ALL MAMMALIAN ANIMALS RECEIVED FOR EXPERIMENTATION IN THE CARNEGIE LABORATORY DURING THE YEAR 1920.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Serial number .. .. .. | 801 | 802 | 803 | | Date .. .. .. .. | Feb. 1, 1920 | Feb. 1, 1920|Feb 2, 1920| |-----------------------------|--------------|-------------|-----------| | Species .. .. .. .. | Dog | Dog | --- | | Variety .. .. .. .. | Mongrel | Spaniel | --- | | Apparent age .. .. .. | Two years | Very old | --- | | s.e.x .. .. .. .. .. | Male | Female | --- | | Colour .. .. .. .. | Yellow | White | --- | | Condition .. .. .. | Good | Poor | --- | | From whom received .. .. | Bradson | Burns | --- | | Address .. .. .. .. | 45, Ca.n.a.l St.| 22, Mill St.| --- | | Amount paid him .. .. | 75 cents | 50 cents | --- | | How acquired by him .. | Found | Founds | --- | | Kept by us for redemption | 15 days | 15 days | --- | | Delivered to .. .. .. | Dr. Sharp | Dr. Ball | --- | | Redeemed or died .. .. | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------

From such a register as the foregoing, it would not be difficult to compile a report at the end of each quarter-year, somewhat after the following form:

REPORT OF ANIMALS (MAMMALS) RECEIVED FOR EXPERIMENTATION AT THE CARNEGIE INSt.i.tUTE, DURING QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1920.

------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | Other | | | | Dogs.| Cats.|Monkeys.|Mammals.| Total.| |-------------------------|------|------|--------|--------|-------| | | | | | | | | On hand, January 1 .. | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 40 | | Acquired .. .. | 91 | 142 | 11 | 132 | 376 | | |------|------|--------|--------|-------| | Total .. .. | 111 | 146 | 13 | 146 | 416 | | |======|======|========|========|=======| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Redeemed by owners .. | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | | Died before use .. | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | Used for experiment .. | 84 | 76 | 10 | 98 | 268 | | On hand at date .. | 14 | 70 | 2 | 48 | 134 | | | | | | | | | |------|------|--------|--------|-------| | | | | | | | | Total | 111 | 146 | 13 | 146 | 416 | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------

(Signed) A. B., REGISTRAR OF LABORATORY.

STATE OF NEW YORK.

CITY OF NEW YORK. SS.

On this 31st day of March, 1920, before me, the subscriber, personally came A. B., known to me, and he, being duly sworn, declared that the foregoing report signed by him is a full, true, and complete statement of all the animals of the species named therein, which were either on hand on the first day of the quarter, or which have been received at the Laboratory of the Carnegie Inst.i.tute for experimental purposes, and the disposition thereof, for the quarter-year ending March 31, 1920.

NOTARY PUBLIC.

It is necessary not only to know what animals are received at any laboratory; we must be able to follow them to the end. Each individual instructor, professor or a.s.sistant-professor, or other person who performs experiments of any kind should be required to state what he has done. The following is an outline of a report which might be made to the Director in charge of the laboratory.

A REPORT OF ALL MAMMALIAN ANIMALS USED FOR EXPERIMENTATION, EITHER BY MYSELF OR UNDER MY PERSONAL SUPERVISION IN ........... LABORATORY, DURING QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1920.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Mon- |Guinea-| Other | | | | Dogs.| Cats.| keys.| Pigs. |Animals.| Total.| |-----------------------|------|------|------|-------|--------|-------| | | | | | | | | | I. Number of animals | | | | | | | | used solely for | | | | | | | | original research | | | | | | | | II. Number of animals | | | | | | | | used for demonstra- | | | | | | | | tion before students, | | | | | | | |of physiological facts | | | | | | | |III. Number of animals | | | | | | | | experimented upon by | | | | | | | | students .. .. | | | | | | | | |------|------|------|-------|--------|-------| | Total .. .. | | | | | | | | |------|------|------|-------|--------|-------| |IV.Number of above ani-| | | | | | | | mals, in experimen-| | | | | | | | tation upon which | | | | | | | | CURARE was used | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Signed) ........................

a.s.sISTANT IN PHYSIOLOGY.