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

Animal Rights History »» Dr. Arthur Beale

1896 | Why I Oppose Vivisection

Dr. Arthur Beale in "Why I Oppose Vivisection," convinced that "vivisection is [not] important, useful or justifiable," bases his argument on both scientific and moral reasons.

I…oppose vivisection to–day from a strong conviction—first, that it is a course entirely at variance with true culture and the progress of society; second, that it is a method of research entirely unscientific; third, that it accumulates facts which, as honourable members of my own profession have said, are not only useless but directly harmful, as they only confuse the mind; fourth, on moral grounds. (Dr. Arthur Beale, "Why I Oppose Vivisection" Animals' Friend Magazine, 1896-Jul)

If we grant that vivisection is necessary, man is the proper medium— experiments on animals are so confusing. (Dr. Arthur Beale, "Why I Oppose Vivisection," Animals' Friend Magazine, 1896-Jul)

I unhesitatingly say that if he who declares vivisection to be necessary will not yield his own living body to the knife, but instead secures an inoffensive animal for the purpose, and then dares to say this is for the sake of humanity, he is no scientist, but an arrant coward and hypocrite. (Dr. Arthur Beale, "Why I Oppose Vivisection," Animals' Friend Magazine, 1896-Jul)

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1896-Jul | Dr. Arthur Beale, "Why I Oppose Vivisection, No. 12," Animals' Friend Magazine Animals' Friend Magazine [London:1894-?] 2 (1896 Jul): 174-175. [Online at Animal Rights History, 2003]

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