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14
To the Editor of the Times.
Sir,—My attention has been drawn to a complaint from a general hospital of difficulty in
obtaining subscriptions, owing to the agitation of local anti.vivisectionists against the holding
of a Home Office licence for vivisection by the pathologist attached to the hospital staff. Such
agitation will react injuriously upon the work of the hospital, curtailing its activities by the
reduction of its income, or by the loss of valuable aid in the diagnosis and treatment of
disease if the licence is surrendered.
To take a concrete example, there are cases of early and obscure tuberculous infection in
which, other means of pathological investigation failing, an injection is made into a susceptible
animal such as a guinea pig of material obtained from the patient. The animal is killed after
allowing sufficient time for the infection to develop, and the presence of the disease in its dead
body establishes the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the patient. The benefit to the patient of
early diagnosis is incalculable, affording a much greater prospect of cure than would be possible
otherwise ; the community also gains additional protection from the spread of the disease.
Hospitals are charitable institutions, depending to a large extent upon the subscriptions
of the benevolent, and it will be a misfortune if the highly skilled work carried out by them
for the sick poor is curtailed by the attacks of anti.vivisectionists, misled by the statements,
and aided, as there is only too good reason to believe, by the funds of the anti.vivisectionist
societies.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
1, Verulam.buildings, Grays Inn, W.C.l. BERNARD H. SPILSBURY.
June 11th.
It would indeed be a misfortune if the highly.skilled work carried out
by the hospitals for the sick were curtailed by the attacks of persons
whose "over.fondness'' for animals will not permit a reasonable
view of their use, and it is a misfortune that the work of preventing
the spread of infectious disease is hampered by attacks from the same
persons or those misled by them. The prevention of unnecessary
suffering in man or animal merits the highest praise, and safeguards
exist to prevent unnecessary suffering in animals, either in the
laboratory or slaughter.house. If those safeguards are inadequate
they should be strengthened, but any person who eats meat or wears
leather.boots for the sake of his own comfort and health is thoroughly
inconsistent in opposing the use of animals to assist persons suffering
from disease or exposed to the risk of contracting disease.
The prejudice against vaccination arises from these inconsistent
persons and is fostered by every possible means with the result that
Small.pox is more and more difficult to control and that all specific
action against infectious disease such as Diphtheria is hindered.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The year's working of the Municipal Centre at 28, Lower Clapton
Road, which includes Ante.natal. Child Welfare, Light and Dental
Clinics, is described fully on pages 77 to 80 of this Report.
The Light Clinic opened on January 14th, 1926, and one session
of two hours weekly is held. The lamp is a KBB type K lamp,
Mercury Vapour; the amperage, starting, is 4.5, running 2.7, series
resistance 44 ohms; the current used is direct, 240 volts. Dr. Gere
has treated 141 cases successfully this year, the length of time required
for treatment varying from 4 weeks in skin diseases to 9
months in that troublesome condition Rickets.