6.66 "not for hours but for days, under the torture of the dissecting-knife, until the spectator, grown callous "to suffering, becomes as savage as the operator "himself? What will you say to him, who could "calmly for days prolong atrocities and sufferings "which no Christian eye can witness without horror, "no Christian lip describe but in the most unmeasured "language of indignation? I will state still further. 6.66 6.66 What will a Christian audience say when they hear ““ that the revolting fact was perpetrated and recorded ""in the City of Edinburgh. That an iron was heated, "" and then forced into the brain of the unfortunate ani"mal, which with fiendish skill was kept alive for the space of sixteen days" (Cries of "shame.") "By whom was this atrocity perpetrated? By men who pride "themselves on their science and civilisation, but who, "in fact, are more benighted in point of civilisation "than the benighted savages of Scythia. Will you "be able to restrain your indignation, then, when you "are calmly told that it is better to leave such matters "to the discretion' of individuals? In other cases "the law of outraged morals steps in to protect and ""avenge; but against these cases, offensive to the "light, outraging decency, repugnant to generous "sympathy and to the Christian faith, the law deals. "not its thunders. The young and inexperienced who are attracted to these charnel houses, where horrors ""not to be described are permitted under the name of ""science, must in time have all feelings of compassion ""for suffering entirely obliterated." 6.66 6.66 Then the next book to which I would refer is a book entitled 'Vivisection: Is it Necessary or Justifiable? Being Two Prize Essays published by the Royal 'Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,' and published in London by Robert Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly, in the year 1866. What I wish to refer to is an extract which it contains, written from a book by Mr. J. Burn Murdoch, of Gartincaber, Edinburgh, in 1846, entitled 'An Account of a Visit to the Veterinary • School of Alfort in 1844." "* 4448. Do you wish to refer us to particular passages in that book as showing the evils of the system of vivisection ?-Yes. 4449. Will you be so good as to give us the references to them?-I will furnish them afterwards. My object in referring you especially to that passage headed 'A 'Visit to Alfort,' is this. It is simply harrowing in its details; and he being a veterinary surgeon, of course he is competent to speak, and I expect he is a very good authority; and the thing almost culminates in those horrors. Our object in bringing that forward is to show what length these things not only can go to, but have gone to, and that what has occurred in France may occur here. I am now going to read a very few lines out of another work, and my object is to show how the thing is spreading; that it is not confined merely to laboratories and hospitals, but is done in lodgings, and so on; in fact, that it is permeating general society. It is called Medical Students of the Period. A Few Words in Defence of those much-maligned People; *The Royal Commission refused to permit me to read the horrible cruelties detailed by Mr. J. Burn Murdoch.-G. R. J. with Digressions on various topics of public interest 'connected with Medical Science,' by R. Temple Wright, M.D., late Scholar of King's College, London; and it is published by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1867.* 4450. Is Mr. Wright living ?—I do not know; I have not the honour of his acquaintance. 4451. You refer us to that book as showing that, in your opinion, evidence is obtainable of the spread of the system? Yes. 4452. What page do you particularly direct our attention to ?-Page 137 and page 138. 4453. Lord Winmarleigh: Does that book contain opinions expressed by people to the Society, or are they facts?—I do not know whether they are facts or not. The writer gives them here in this book as facts. I want to show what some of these young fellows do in their lodgings when they meet in an evening. 4454. The Chairman: Have you read the book yourself? No; I have read the passages I particularly refer to. 4455. Are you acquainted with the writer?—Not at all.† (The Witness withdrew.) *I was also refused permission by the Commissioners to read from this work.-G. R. J. † Professor Huxley endeavoured to prevent my giving any further evidence. He suggested to the Chairman, towards the close of the first day, that I should conclude my evidence on that occasion, and not appear again.-G. R. J. SECOND DAY'S EVIDENCE. NOVEMBER 6TH, 1875. Present: The Right Hon. VISCOUNT CARDWELL, in the Chair. Sir J. B. KARSLAKE, M.P. THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY, Esq. JOHN ERIC ERICHSEN, Esq. RICHARD HOLT HUTTON, Esq. N. BAKER, Esq., Secretary. Mr. GEORGE RICHARD JESSE recalled, and further examined. 5551. The Chairman: When we adjourned the other day there had not been time for you to finish your statement. Will you be so good as to proceed with it now?-With regard to the list which I was then requested to furnish of the subscribers to the Society for the Abolition of Vivisection, I may state that I am having it prepared. In regard to Mr. E. C. May's* letter, which the Commission, I think, demurred to printing in the Appendix, on the score that he being alive, he ought to give evidence himself, I have communicated with him, and he tells me that he has written * Mr. Edward Curtis May, F.R.C.S. See his letter addressed to the Society for the Abolition of Vivisection, April 14th, 1875. to the Commissioners to state respectfully that his health totally precludes him from coming here. Under these circumstances, I presume that you will receive the letter and print it. 5552. At all events the Commission cannot receive it from you. Will you please proceed with your statement?--Your decision has quite taken the Society by surprise. We thought, and doubtless correctly, judging from the copy of the Royal Commission on Vivisection, that you had the power to do that, as it says:- To call for, have access to, and examine all such books, 'documents, and papers as may afford the fullest in'formation on the subject, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways ' and means whatsoever.' I merely mention that lest you should have forgotten it. 6 5553. Will you have the goodness to proceed with your statement ?-Certainly, having done all that I can on that point. Then I think the Commission also objected to allow me to read even a passage from the works of Chalmers. Is that so? 5554. It is so.-I understand that that was on the ground that I could not state in what portion of his works it occurred; but one of our Society has been to the British Museum, and I have this morning received the particulars. 5555. What you were told the other day was that if you would have the goodness to put in the reference, it was open to you to do so. As I understand, you were not able then to put in the reference, but you are now ?-I am. 5556. If you will be so good as to put in the reference, |