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234 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
live animals, which excites the imagination. Sociology and
psychology enable us perfectly to comprehend the frenzy of
the Anti-Vivisection Society, but science and cormnon sense
will teach na to bear a slight wound to our sympathotic
feelings that we may secure immeasurable blessings for future
generations. Vaccination has already saved more lives than
all the wars of Napoleon destroyed. Chloroform has prevented
inconceivable amouuts of pain. From thc continued application
of oxperiment to physiulogy we ]nay look for .other gifts
euch as these. (‘Where the pursuit of scientific truth and
commm cornpassion come iuto coUisiou, it seems to mo that
the ends of civilisation, no less thou of morality, require US to
be guided by tho latter or higher principle.” So says Mr.
Eutton, in his separate Rcport a8 mcmber of tho Commission;
but the pursuit of scientific truth is the highest and most
civilising and most cornpassionatc work in which a man can
ongage. If ho holds that wo may not cause pain to a dog that
we may save greater pain to n t,housand human beings, then
furthcr argument would bo useless. Mr. Hutton also seems
to think that it is more justifiable to make experiments upon
sheep, in a way likely to benefit other sheep, than if mo experiment
purely in the interest of man. We may injure one
sonsitivo creature for the good of other creatures of the samo
rank, but not for the good of creatures of higher or, I suppose,
lower rank. If this be his meaning, I can only allolv that he
posscsses mom1 sentiments of n kind to which I am wholly a
stranger.
I do not believe that there is any need for legislation in
this matter at all. It is undcsirable that students should
privately practise vivisection, and it is most desirable that
anresthetics should bo cmployed to the utmost possible extent ;
but after the attention of the public has been so strongly
drawn to the subject, it is very unlikely that t.he slight abuses
shown to have occurred will bo repeated, The professora of
practical physiology will havo cvcry reason to keep tt watch,
and they am more likely to be able to restrain their students
than the police or the societies ; but ifprosecutions like that of
M. Magnan are to be repeated, it vill be neceasary to protect