Evidence of Lord Justice Fletcher Moulton before the Royal Commission on Vivisection, Wednesday, 24th July, 1907.

  • Moulton, John Fletcher Moulton, 1st baron, 1844-1921.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Evidence of Lord Justice Fletcher Moulton before the Royal Commission on Vivisection, Wednesday, 24th July, 1907. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    method is the wisest way to work for the diminution of the totality of pain. If I have brought the question to this point, it is all I want to bring out of the example which I have taken. I admit that those who claim that they should inflict pain are bound to show that it is the wisest thing to do with the view to reduce the totality of pain. But I want to point out one other thing, and that is this—that a man would be bound to take the same course with regard to the rats if there was not a certainty, but a reasonable ground for think- ing, that plague would follow. He would have no right to say, “ It is not demonstrated ; I will risk it.” 12706. There is a case, of course, beyond that, where a man is making experiments upon a living animal with a view to ascertain precisely what the action of certain parts of the body is—what their functions are ? —Yes. 12707. Not that he can point to any particular sav- iug of pain or good that can be done by it, but he is doing it to acquire knowledge which he does not pos- sess, with a philosophic belief that it will lead to the good of reducing pain ?—It is a real pleasure to me to have such points put to me, for this reason—it con- vinces me, as indeed I knew before, that I have the honour of speaking before those who have thought very seriously over this matter, and realise the various points which arise. You will find that I shall take that point up in its proper place; because, in my opinion, it is of the greatest importance that we should face specific questions of that kind. You cannot, in this matter, come to a wise conclusion by simply dealing in vague generalities. But if you will allow me, I will take it up later, and you will find, I think, that I have put it in its logical position. Now, I said that I took that