Experiments on animals / by Stephen Paget.

  • Paget, Stephen, 1855-1926.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Experiments on animals / by Stephen Paget. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    The Chairman read replies from the Home Secretary touching a proposed new Bill relating to experiments on animals. In a letter explaining the objects of this Bill, it had been pointed out that it would “make it illegal to operate for scientific purposes upon a living animal before first putting that animal under a state of complete anaesthesia.” To this the Home Secretary replied :— “ This is the law already, unless the operator holds a special certificate from the Secretary of State dispensing with anaesthetics. Such special certificates are granted only for inoculations, feeding, and similar procedures involving no cutting. The animal has to be killed under anaesthetics if it be in pain as soon as the result of the experiment is ascertained. If the new law abolishes these certificates, it will put an end to the preparation and testing of anti-toxines and protective sera, as well as the most efficacious mode of studying infective diseases, and to the necessary practice of diagnostic inoculation.” The second object of the Bill was to “make it obligatory on the vivisector to destroy the animal before recovering from anaesthesia.” On this point the Home Secretary’s reply was :— “ This is also law already, unless the operator has a special certificate. These certificates are granted on con- dition that antiseptic precautions are used ; and if these fail and pain continues after the anaesthetics have ceased to operate, the animal is immediately killed painlessly.” Another object of the Bill was “to make it illegal to use curare.” To this the Home Secretary replied :—