VIVISECTION, the dissection of an animal while alive; physiological experiments on liv ing animals. It is practised with the view (1) of increasing physiological knowledge; (2) of confirming known facts; (3) of giving dexterity in operative surgery. Strictly, vivisection im plies only "cutting,* but the term is now ex tended to include all ldnds of experiments on living animals. The practice of vivisection can be traced back almost to the earliest periods of medicine and surgery, and was in vogue in the Alexandrian school. In recent years much opposition has been excited against it, and . those adverse to the practice, the so-called anti vivisectionists, have endeavored to restrict or wholly abolish vivisection by harsh measures. It is alleged that animal experimenters prac tise much needless cruelty, but even apart from this, some have talcen the extreme view that any experiments on living animals, with the object of advancing medical and surgical knowl edge, are, on moral grounds, unjustifiable. Those who actvocate vivisection point to the gains which have accrued to physiology, and also directly to the healing art, by experiments on living ammals. The circulation of the blood, and the existence of the lacteals, were thus established; and nearly all our present knowl edge of the functions of the nervous system has been thus obtained, and could never have been afforded by the most minute anatomical research. In consequence of the knowledge thus obtained we no longer divide a motor nerve, and thus paralyze the face, in the hope of re lieving tic douloureaux, while we now see our way to a more rational tnode of treating epilepsy, various obscure forms of paralysis, etc. Without vivisection we could never have clearly understood the causes of the sounds of the heart, and without the knowledge of these the stethoscope would have been useless in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases; nor should we without vivisection have known anything of the true nature of many mysterious diseases. The Hunterian treatment of aneurism by liga ture, which has saved hundreds of human lives, was worked out by experiments on liv ing animals, and so have been the improved methods of the transfusion of -bloat!. The study of arriesthetics, which, after prolonged in vestigation, led to the introduction of chloro form, was unquestionably accompanied by the suffocation of many animals; but the vast amount of misery spared to humanity by the general introduction of anmsthetics into surgery and midwifery practice more than counter balances the pain inflicted in the experiments.
The discovery of the healing power of diph theria antitoxin, whereby countless lives of infants and children suffering from this dis mase e been cured, is' a direct outcome of anineal experiments. If vivisection were abol ished the manufacture of antitoxin would per force cease. The lower animals themselves have shared in the benefit, for (to mention only one instance) the discovery of the cause of anthrax in sheep made by means of vivisection has tesulted in not only saving the lives of vast numbers of these animals (an enormous eco nomic gain), but in preventing the sufferings of sheep attacked by the disease. By experiments on living animals must be sought the solution of such questions as the best means of restor ing to life persons apparently drowned; why chloroform scenetimes kills, and how those suf fering under apparently fatal effects can be best recovered. These and similar considera tions lead the advocates of vivisection to the conclusion that experiments on living animals performed—always with care to avoid need less pain—with the object of advancing medi cal, surgical or toxicological knowledge, and of thereby relieving human and animal suf fering, or prolonging human life, are not only justifiable, but are a matter of duty. The Vivisection Act of 1876 regutates and restricts to a certain degree the practice of vivisection in England.
The literature on the subject is extensive. Consult 'Vivisection,' 500 prize essays (Bos ton 18913); pamphlets issued by the Research Bureau of the American Medical Association (Chicago 1909-13); 'Reports' of the Ameri can Humane Association (Chicago 1895-99) ; (Reports' of the Royal Commission (London 1907-12); Keen, W. W, (Animal Experimenta tion and Medical Progress' (Boston 1914), the best work on the subject The American anti vivisectionists publish the Journal of Zaphily (Philadelphia), the Open Door (New York) and the National Humane Review (Albany).