In memoriam Lord Shaftesbury.

Date:: 1885

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: In memoriam Lord Shaftesbury. Source: Wellcome Collection.

30/50 (page 26)

possible, strange and numerous as were the novel things that sprang up every day. In the preface to the first edition Professor Huxley says:— “The following ‘Lessons in Elementary Physi¬ ology ’ are primarily intended to serve the purpose of a text-book for teachers and learners in boys’ and girls’ schools.” In the next place it is strongly insisted “ that such experiments as those subjoined shall not merely be studied in the manual, but actually repeated, either by the ‘ boys and girls ’ themselves, or else by the teacher in their presence, as plainly appears from the preface to the second edition. There it was said, ‘ the knowledge ’ which is ‘ attainable by mere reading, though infinitely better than ignorance,’ yet loses ‘ almost its whole worth as an intellectual discipline ’ to those who seek it only in books. Where then could it be sought but in the living animal ? ” And the last phrase showed it by assert¬ ing the necessity of the knowledge “ arising from direct contact with fact.” But that there might be no doubt, he asked their Lordships’ attention to the passage in the ninth edition, page 52:—“ If in a rabbit,” the Professor stated, “ the sympathetic nerve which sends branches to the vessels of the head is cut, the ear of the rabbit .... at once blushes .... To produce pallor and cold in the rabbit’s ear, it is only necessary to irritate the cut end of the sym¬ pathetic.” It was manifest that the incision to make the ear of the rabbit blush must be on the living, and not on the dead animal.* * Note.—^Professor Huxley has since written to The Times to disclaim all intention of advising vivisection by teachers and learners.