THE VIVISECTION BILL

Abstract

THE failure of Mr.Reid's Vivisection Abolition Bill on April 4 affords cause of congratulation to all who are interested in science, although it is perhaps to be regretted that the Bill did not come to a “division” instead of being “talked out.” Scientific men must be pleased because one more attempt of ignorance to stop the pursuit of knowledge has been defeated. But, more than this, the failure of the Bill is a boon to all who care for their own health, for that of their families, and for the welfare of society at large. Had it passed it would not only have stopped all experiments in physiology, pathology, and pharmacology in this country, but it would have rendered impossible the detection of crime by the application of physiological tests. Had this Bill been law at the time of the trial of Lamson for poisoning by aconite, his conviction would have been impossible; for although chemical evidence pointed to aconite as the poison used, the tests for it were not sufficiently distinctive to have justified his conviction on chemical evidence alone, and it required to be corroborated by physiological evidence. This was afforded by the injection of the substance obtained from the stomach into some small animals. As these died presenting all the symptoms of aconitine poisoning, the chemical evidence was confirmed, and the poisoner was accordingly convicted.