.,.y.\.lS DENISON .,,, ��r , ..,_ � UNI\IERSllY Of 'Cl � COLORAOO
._ SCHOOL Of
THE ANTIVIVISECTION INITIAT VE MEDICINE
IN COLORADO* '\ Aff.,ORIAL
ua\\� .. �
Again efforts are being made to stop research directed toward the relief of pain and disease and the prolongation of Ii fe. By use of the initiative and ref erendum, the antivivisectionists of Colorado have filed a bill, to be voted on at the November election, which prohibits experimental operations on animals except to relieve or cure the animals themselves. It made illegal such experiments whether performed with or with out anesthetics. It is the same sort of measure that was presented for popular vote in California in 1920. If it should be adopted it would abol ish all experimental study of problems in general biology and in general and veterinary medicine; it would discontinue modern diagnostic methods-no Wassermann tests, no diphtheria tests for viru lence, no inoculations to determine the presence of tuberculosis would be ·petmitted. The preparation of vaccines and curative serums, and the standardization of drugs by animal tests could no.t be carried out. The law would thus render useless to a large degree the laboratories in the state and city boards of health, in the hospitals, in the medical school and in the Bureau of Animal Industry. It would seriously interfere with the live-stock interests, for it. would not only check experiments for the cure of animal disease but would refuse to threatened herds and flocks the protection obtainable from well-tried serums and vaccines. Such legislation would imperil every man, woman and child in Colorado, and the domestic animals as well.
There is no reasonable call for such lcgislation. Ancient prejudices, misinformation and gross perver sion of the facts have been used to mislead people regarding the nature and the beneficent results of
ani-* Editorial from The Journal of the American J\iedical Association. June 17, 1922, p. 1895.
2
mal experimentation. In every medical school of the United States, in veterinary schools, in state health board laboratories, humane rules governing the treat ment of experimental animals have been adopted and are being enforced. The "open door" policy, admitting freely to the laboratories the officers of humane socie ties, has now been adopted in the medical institutions throughout the land. There are drastic laws in the statutes against cruelty to animals. If, as the antivivi sectionists insist, cruelties are being practiced in the laboratories, there is no excuJe for their negligence in permitting these cruelties to concinue and the perpetra tors to go unpunished. Until the existing law is proved inadequate, no new law should be enacted.
The present effort of the antivivisectionists subjects the people of Colorado to an intelligence test on a large scale. vVhen a similar test was made in California two years ago, the measure prohibiting animal experimenta tion was defeated by a quarter of a million votes. Everywhere, in the national (ongress, in Massachu setts, in New York, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, the a1itivivisectionists have failed to secure restrictive leg islation. They should not have their first success in Colorado.
When people are properly informed regarding the methods of animal experimentation, the precautions taken to avoid unnecessary pain, the character of the investigators, and the great benefits that have come to man, and to animals as well, from medical research, there is no question that a large majority will not only tolerate, but will promote the activities of the labora tory workers. It is of prime importance that well informed physicians recognize the essential need of freedom of inquiry about the problems of life and death, and that they give their time generously to explain how the proposed law would endanger the welfare of Colorado.
3
The responsibility does not rest, however, solely on physicians. The fight against preventable disease and premature death should be one of the first interests of all public spirited citizens. They should recognize that in this fight the antivivisectionists are slackers, doing nothing themselves to secure better health and longer life for their fellows, and trying their best to prevent others from using the ways which have proved most effective. These ways are now used throughout the civilized world. The intelligent voters of Colorado must not undermine and destroy their own defenses.
Reprinted from The Journal of the American Medical Association June 17, 1922, Vol. 78, pp. 1895 alld 1896
Copyright, H22
