An ethical problem; or, Sidelights upon scientific experimentation on man and animalsLeffingwell, Albert
Philosophy
An ethical problem; or, Sidelights upon scientific experimentation on man and animals
Leffingwell, Albert
Medicine, Experimental; Vivisection
I enclose an addressed and stamped envelope for your reply; and
thanking you for whatever information you can afford, I am,
Yours faithfully,
FREDERICK P. BELLAMY.
A few details concerning the result of this experimental inquiry may
be of interest.
The Department of Physiology of the University of Minnesota reported
that the material used for the demonstration of physiological and
pathological phenomena before students consisted of 88 dogs, 74 cats,
and 420 other animals, making a total of 582 for the year 1914.
The Department of Pathology and Bacteriology of the Medico-Chirurgical
College of Philadelphia reported using "about" 124 rabbits and guinea-
pigs, chiefly for research purposes. No report, however, was received
from the Department of Physiology.
The North-Western University Medical School of Chicago sent a
courteous reply, stating that it would be hardly possible to make any
report "as to the number of animals used in experimental work in our
laboratories." Research work was carried on "in at least four
laboratories of the Medical School, and in the work dogs, rabbits, and
guinea-pigs particularly are used.... As the work of research varies
materially from time to time in the several laboratories, we have no
way of making even an approximate estimate which would be of value" of
the number of animals used. Probably this is the case with most other
large laboratories in this country.
The Eclectic Medical University reported the use of but six small
animals in its research work. The director says:
"Our laboratories lead the world in cancer research, yet we have never
used an animal for this purpose. We are the second laboratory in the
world in research of pellagra, and have used only four animals.... We
have achieved the above results because we believe in clinical and not
in experimental research."
From some thirteen institutions, chiefly belonging to the South or
West, vague or imperfect reports were received. Some of them
disclaimed the use of living animals in teacher, or the use of animals
higher in the scale than turtles or frogs.
Two institutions refused to give any information whatever. An
official connected with Rush Medical College of Chicago wrote:
"The statement that your society is not opposed to vivisection may
deceive the uninitiated. Either vivisection is a good thing and hence
should not be interfered with, or it is a nefarious business and
should be stopped.... You and your society are either honestly
misinformed, suffer from delusions, or are lying bigots. In my
opinion, mainly the latter. You are my enemy, and the enemy of every
man of intelligence interested in the well fare (sic) of mankind and
animals. I will give no information to wilfull (sic) falsifiers, the
insane, or those too lazy or stupid to inform themselves of facts."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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