Historical Literature on Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »» Benjamin Rush

1795 (1786) | Medical Inquiries and Observations

Cruelty to brute animals is another means of destroying moral sensibilty.…Mr. Hogarth points out, in his ingenious prints, the connection between cruelty to brute animals in youth, and murder in manhood.…I am so perfectly satisfied of the truth of a connection between morals and humanity to brutes, that I shall find it difficult to restrain my idolatry for that legislature that shall first establish a system of laws, to defend them from outrage and oppression. (Benjamin Rush, Medical Inquiries and Observations) [1795 (1786)])

Links to the Primary Source
document the authenticity of quotations while providing more in-depth insight into the ideologies of humanity against cruelty to animals and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.

1795 / [1786] | Benjamin Rush , "An Inquiry into the Influence of Physical Causes upon the Moral Faculty: Delivered [1786-Feb-27] before The American Philosophical Society…Philidephia" in Vol. 2 of Medical Inquiries and Observations [First Edition in 5 vols. 1794-1798] 2nd Ed. (Philadelphia 1805; Digitized by Google, 2007).

Quotes briefly introduce animal rights activists, animal welfare advocates and authors; the history of animal rights, animal welfare and animal protection; and the literature of the humane movement against cruelty to animals.

These pages are part of an ongoing effort to provide free online access to historical literature on animal rights, animal welfare and humanity against cruelty to animals.