Animal Rights History »» Albert Leffingwell

Vivisection in America, "American Humane Association on Restriction of Vivisection"

APPENDIX B.

THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION ON RESTRICTION OF VIVISECTION

THE following resolution, offered by Albert Leffingwell, M. D., of New York, and seconded by John Morris, M.D., of Baltimore, Md., was adopted by the American Humane Association, at its annual convention in Philadelphia, Pa., October 29, 1892.

"Whereas, The evidence before this Association seems clearly to prove that upon the continent of Europe atrociously severe and cruel experiments upon the lower animals are frequently performed ; and,

Whereas, While such experiments are restricted in England, yet there exists in no one of our American States any legal restriction preventing the most painful experiments of continental physiologists from being repeatedly performed even for the demonstration of well–known facts ; therefore,

Resolved, That the American Humane Association, while not pronouncing itself at this time either for or against physiological research in general, does hereby declare that, in its judgment, the repetition of painful experiments before medical students merely for the purpose of illustrating physiological truths, is contrary to humanity and ought not to be continued. It agrees with the opinion of the president of the Royal College of Physicians, England, that no experiment should be

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repeated in medical schools 'to illustrate what is already established ; ' with the opinion of Professor Huxley, that 'experimentation without the use of anæsthetics is not a fitting exhibition for teaching purposes ; ' with Sir James Paget, surgeon to the Queen, that experiments for the purpose of repeating anything already ascertained ought never to be shown to classes ; with Dr. Rolleston, professor of physiology at the University of Oxford, that 'for class demonstrations limitations should undoubtedly be imposed, and these limitations should render illegal painful experiments before classes.'

Resolved, That, acting upon such scientific opinion and acknowledging itself in accord therewith, the American Humane Association hereby respectfully urges upon the Legislatures of every State in the Union the enactment of laws which shall prohibit, under severe penalty, the repetition of painful experiments upon animals for the purpose of teaching or demonstrating well–known and accepted facts."