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THE " BESSEMER."
704 that which is the
but too
the administration of anaesthetics or otherwise, and shall continue to be insensible during the whole of such experi’’ Until this habitude of using, and indifference to the use ment ; and that, if the nature of the experiment be such as of, foul water or of water liable to be fouled for dairy pur- to seriously injure the animal, so as to cause to it afterposes, is put a check to, probably the most important source suffering, the animal shall be killed immediately on the of infection of milk with enteric fever material will hardly termination of the experiment." Experiments without the use be removed. Such infection is, indeed, to be held as one of of anaesthetics are also to be permissible, provided the followseveral highly probable evils arising from this source. One of ing conditions are complied with :—" That the experiment the results of this inquiry which has been most forcibly im- is made for the purpose of new scientific discovery, and for pressed upon the reporters, is that the use of water for dairy no other purpose; and that insensibility cannot be propurposes fouled after fashions snch as have been described, duced without necessarily frustrating the object of the exmay, by inducing changes in the milk, particularly under high periment ; and that the animal should not be subjected to ranges of temperature, play an influential part in determining any pain which is not necessary for the purpose of the exfatal infantile diarrhoea." periment ; and that the experiment be brought to an end This Report is one well worthy of careful perusal by every as soon as practicable; and that if the nature of the experihealth officer, and is a model in its way of what such reports ment be such as to seriously injure the animal, so as to should be. We have been enabled only to give a faint outline, cause to it the animal shall be killed immeafter-suffering, and such as can convey no adequate idea of the hard work, on the termination of the experiment. That a diately the patience, and the skill which have been employed upon it. of all experiments made without the use of anaesregister We congratulate Mr. Radcliffe and Mr. Power on the success- thetics shall be duly kept, and be returned in such form and ful issue of their labours. at such times as one of her Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State may direct." The Secretary of State is to be empowered to grant THE " BESSEMER." licences to persons provided with certificates signed by at least one of the following persons :-The President of the THE daily journals have already acquainted the public with Royal Society, the Presidents of the Royal Colleges of the fact that the saloon steamer, designed conjointly by Mr. Surgeons or of the Colleges of Physicians in London, EdinBessemer and Mr. Reed, crossed from Dover to Calais on Satur- burgh, or Dublin, and also by a recognised professor of medicine, or anatomy. day, on an official trip, with a large party of scientific and physiology, other distinguished men on board. All professions connected directly or indirectly with marine matters were represented on the occasion, so that the peculiar properties of hull outline, machinery, ventilation, and, chiefest, of the swinging saloon, might be fully and fairly tested by competent critics. As to "Audi alteram partem." the first two items above-named, it is not our province to say anything. Great care appears to havebeen taken to secure EXAMINATIONS IN PHYSIOLOGY IN THE the comfort of passengers by special ventilating arrangements UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. for the saloon as well as the other parts of the ship. They are To the Editor of THE LANCET. somewhat similar to those described last week as existing on be regretted that in his comments on the is to SiB,—It board H.M.S. Assistance, and an unusually large number of of the University of Glasgow, in the visitations of small syphoned up-casts are provided to carry off foul air from reports Buchanan has not quoted THE LANCET of Professor to-day, the nethermost parts of the ship. The swinging saloon is speand indicated the of the reports to which he louvred that expassages windows, cially ventilated by ground-glass tend along each side close to the roof. Although at the time objects, and to which he replies by an unqualified contra. of the passage across, the thermometer in this gorgeous apart- diction," as this might have enabled your readers to judge ment stood only at 65° Fahr., we believe that, for the exigen- how far he has really given a contradiction to any part of cies of the summer months, further provision for out-casts will them. have to be made. It is necessary, too, to draw attention to With regard to the statement of facts made in the report the fact that the stokeholes were excessively and most unneto which he more particularly alludes-viz., that there was cessarily hot. The thermometer at the forward door of the no examination in practical histology, and that there were aft stokehole (which should serve as down-cast) stood at 96° Fahr., and it is evident that both forward and aft the " pl6- no means, microscopical or other, of ascertaining the pracnum" supplies are not sufficient. But all these defects are re- tical acquaintance of the candidates with the subject of mediable, and can soon be remedied by the well-known inge- physiology, Professor Buchanan does not in the least connuity of the Constructor and his staff. Of Mr. Bessemer’s tradict this, but inferentially confirms it, and explains it by " specialit," the swinging saloon, nothing can be said, because the apparatus was not in working order, and indeed showing the difficulties he has encountered in the practical under any circumstances the sea was so smooth that no crucial teaching of physiology from want of the necessary appatrial could have been made. Looking for a fair and complete ratus. It might have been thought, therefore, that our trial at no distant date, we do not care to canvass the principle mentioning those deficiencies, and so calling the attention of the invention, or the probabilities of success, but may of his University to them, would have been acceptable, record that in point of luxurious accommodation and all sorts rather than objectionable, to him, and would be a means of of comfortable appliances, the Bessenaer rivals any passenger assisting him to obtain those appliances the want of which ship afloat. The courteous hospitality of the three companies he so much laments. With regard to the opinion expressed, that the questions resulted in a very delightful trip, and will afford to all the in physiology were not calculated sufficiently to test the guests many pleasant reminiscences. knowledge of the candidates, and that the estimate of the answers was much above their merit. This being an opinion does not admit of contradiction, and can be shown to be inDR. LYON PLAYFAIR’S VIVISECTION BILL. correct only by reference to the questions, the answers, and the marks assigned to the answers. THE Bill introduced by Dr. Lyon Playfair, Mr. Spencer With regard to the five questions appended to Professor by him to the candiWalpole, and Mr. Evelyn Ashley, "to prevent abuse and Buchanan’s letter as having been putand for M.B. of the present session, the request for my dates in on animals made for the of purpose cruelty experiments I that my business as a visitor scientific discovery," has been printed. It proposes to enact answers to them, may remark is not to answer questions, but to criticise them ; and certhat painful experiments on living animals for scientific tainly these questions are open to the prima facie objection purposes shall be permissible on the following conditions :- that three out of the five are upon the circulation of the " That the animal shall first have been made insensible by blood-a subject upon which the Professor has recently
subject of
the paper
are
frequently
present.
"
Correspondence.
11
but too
the administration of anaesthetics or otherwise, and shall continue to be insensible during the whole of such experi’’ Until this habitude of using, and indifference to the use ment ; and that, if the nature of the experiment be such as of, foul water or of water liable to be fouled for dairy pur- to seriously injure the animal, so as to cause to it afterposes, is put a check to, probably the most important source suffering, the animal shall be killed immediately on the of infection of milk with enteric fever material will hardly termination of the experiment." Experiments without the use be removed. Such infection is, indeed, to be held as one of of anaesthetics are also to be permissible, provided the followseveral highly probable evils arising from this source. One of ing conditions are complied with :—" That the experiment the results of this inquiry which has been most forcibly im- is made for the purpose of new scientific discovery, and for pressed upon the reporters, is that the use of water for dairy no other purpose; and that insensibility cannot be propurposes fouled after fashions snch as have been described, duced without necessarily frustrating the object of the exmay, by inducing changes in the milk, particularly under high periment ; and that the animal should not be subjected to ranges of temperature, play an influential part in determining any pain which is not necessary for the purpose of the exfatal infantile diarrhoea." periment ; and that the experiment be brought to an end This Report is one well worthy of careful perusal by every as soon as practicable; and that if the nature of the experihealth officer, and is a model in its way of what such reports ment be such as to seriously injure the animal, so as to should be. We have been enabled only to give a faint outline, cause to it the animal shall be killed immeafter-suffering, and such as can convey no adequate idea of the hard work, on the termination of the experiment. That a diately the patience, and the skill which have been employed upon it. of all experiments made without the use of anaesregister We congratulate Mr. Radcliffe and Mr. Power on the success- thetics shall be duly kept, and be returned in such form and ful issue of their labours. at such times as one of her Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State may direct." The Secretary of State is to be empowered to grant THE " BESSEMER." licences to persons provided with certificates signed by at least one of the following persons :-The President of the THE daily journals have already acquainted the public with Royal Society, the Presidents of the Royal Colleges of the fact that the saloon steamer, designed conjointly by Mr. Surgeons or of the Colleges of Physicians in London, EdinBessemer and Mr. Reed, crossed from Dover to Calais on Satur- burgh, or Dublin, and also by a recognised professor of medicine, or anatomy. day, on an official trip, with a large party of scientific and physiology, other distinguished men on board. All professions connected directly or indirectly with marine matters were represented on the occasion, so that the peculiar properties of hull outline, machinery, ventilation, and, chiefest, of the swinging saloon, might be fully and fairly tested by competent critics. As to "Audi alteram partem." the first two items above-named, it is not our province to say anything. Great care appears to havebeen taken to secure EXAMINATIONS IN PHYSIOLOGY IN THE the comfort of passengers by special ventilating arrangements UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. for the saloon as well as the other parts of the ship. They are To the Editor of THE LANCET. somewhat similar to those described last week as existing on be regretted that in his comments on the is to SiB,—It board H.M.S. Assistance, and an unusually large number of of the University of Glasgow, in the visitations of small syphoned up-casts are provided to carry off foul air from reports Buchanan has not quoted THE LANCET of Professor to-day, the nethermost parts of the ship. The swinging saloon is speand indicated the of the reports to which he louvred that expassages windows, cially ventilated by ground-glass tend along each side close to the roof. Although at the time objects, and to which he replies by an unqualified contra. of the passage across, the thermometer in this gorgeous apart- diction," as this might have enabled your readers to judge ment stood only at 65° Fahr., we believe that, for the exigen- how far he has really given a contradiction to any part of cies of the summer months, further provision for out-casts will them. have to be made. It is necessary, too, to draw attention to With regard to the statement of facts made in the report the fact that the stokeholes were excessively and most unneto which he more particularly alludes-viz., that there was cessarily hot. The thermometer at the forward door of the no examination in practical histology, and that there were aft stokehole (which should serve as down-cast) stood at 96° Fahr., and it is evident that both forward and aft the " pl6- no means, microscopical or other, of ascertaining the pracnum" supplies are not sufficient. But all these defects are re- tical acquaintance of the candidates with the subject of mediable, and can soon be remedied by the well-known inge- physiology, Professor Buchanan does not in the least connuity of the Constructor and his staff. Of Mr. Bessemer’s tradict this, but inferentially confirms it, and explains it by " specialit," the swinging saloon, nothing can be said, because the apparatus was not in working order, and indeed showing the difficulties he has encountered in the practical under any circumstances the sea was so smooth that no crucial teaching of physiology from want of the necessary appatrial could have been made. Looking for a fair and complete ratus. It might have been thought, therefore, that our trial at no distant date, we do not care to canvass the principle mentioning those deficiencies, and so calling the attention of the invention, or the probabilities of success, but may of his University to them, would have been acceptable, record that in point of luxurious accommodation and all sorts rather than objectionable, to him, and would be a means of of comfortable appliances, the Bessenaer rivals any passenger assisting him to obtain those appliances the want of which ship afloat. The courteous hospitality of the three companies he so much laments. With regard to the opinion expressed, that the questions resulted in a very delightful trip, and will afford to all the in physiology were not calculated sufficiently to test the guests many pleasant reminiscences. knowledge of the candidates, and that the estimate of the answers was much above their merit. This being an opinion does not admit of contradiction, and can be shown to be inDR. LYON PLAYFAIR’S VIVISECTION BILL. correct only by reference to the questions, the answers, and the marks assigned to the answers. THE Bill introduced by Dr. Lyon Playfair, Mr. Spencer With regard to the five questions appended to Professor by him to the candiWalpole, and Mr. Evelyn Ashley, "to prevent abuse and Buchanan’s letter as having been putand for M.B. of the present session, the request for my dates in on animals made for the of purpose cruelty experiments I that my business as a visitor scientific discovery," has been printed. It proposes to enact answers to them, may remark is not to answer questions, but to criticise them ; and certhat painful experiments on living animals for scientific tainly these questions are open to the prima facie objection purposes shall be permissible on the following conditions :- that three out of the five are upon the circulation of the " That the animal shall first have been made insensible by blood-a subject upon which the Professor has recently
subject of
the paper
are
frequently
present.
"
Correspondence.
11