An Ethical Problem

An Ethical Problem, by Albert
Leffingwell

The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Ethical Problem, by Albert
Leffingwell
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: An Ethical Prolbem Or, Sidelights upon Scientific
Experimentation on Man and Animals
Author: Albert Leffingwell

Release Date: December 29, 2006 [eBook #20222]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN
ETHICAL PROBLEM***
An Ethical Problem
By the Same Author

RAMBLES IN JAPAN WITHOUT A GUIDE. London, 1892
ILLEGITIMACY, and
THE INFLUENCE OF SEASONS UPON CONDUCT. London and
New York, 1893
VIVISECTION IN AMERICA. New York, 1895
THE VIVISECTION QUESTION. New York, 1901
THE MORALITY OF LONDON. London, 1908
THE VIVISECTION CONTROVERSY. London, 1908
AMERICAN MEAT. London and New York, 1910

AN ETHICAL PROBLEM
OR
SIDELIGHTS UPON SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTATION ON MAN
AND ANIMALS
BY
ALBERT LEFFINGWELL, M.D.
LATE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE
ASSOCIATION AUTHOR OF "THE VIVISECTION QUESTION,"
ETC.
SECOND EDITION, REVISED
LONDON G. BELL AND SONS, LTD.
NEW YORK C.P. FARREL, 117 EAST 21st STREET

1916
PREFACE
The position taken by the writer of this volume should be clearly
understood. It is not the view known as antivivisection, so far as this
means the condemnation without exception of all phases of biological
investigation. There are methods of research which involve no animal
suffering, and which are of scientific utility. Within certain careful
limitations, these would seem justifiable. For nearly forty years, the
writer has occupied the position which half a century ago was generally
held by a majority of the medical profession in England, and possibly
in America, a position maintained in recent years by such men as Sir
Benjamin Ward Richardson of England, by Professor William James
and Dr. Henry J. Bigelow of Harvard University. With the present
ideals of the modern physiological laboratory, so far as they favour the
practice of vivisection in secrecy and without legal regulation, the
writer has no sympathy whatsoever.
An ethical problem exists. It concerns not the prevention of all
experimentation upon animals, but rather the abolition of its cruelty, its
secrecy, its abuse.
Written at various times during a period extending over several years, a
critic will undoubtedly discover instances of repetition and re-statement.
Now and then, it has seemed advisable to include matter from earlier
writings, long out of print; and new light has been thrown upon some
phases of a perplexing problem. Will it tend to induce conviction of the
need for reform? Assuredly, this is not to be expected where there is
disagreement regarding certain basic principles. First of all, there must
be some common ground. No agreement regarding vivisection can be
anticipated or desired with any man who holds that some vague and
uncertain addition to the sum total of knowledge would justify
experiments made upon dying children in a hospital, without regard to
their personal benefit, or sanction the infliction of any degree of agony
upon animals in a laboratory.
A liking for the use of italics as a means of directing attention to certain

statements is confessed. But wherever such italicized phrases appear in
quotations, the reader should ascribe the emphasis to the writer, and not
to the original authority.
The inculcation of scepticism regarding much that is put forth in
justification of unlimited research is admitted. It seems to the writer
that anyone who has become interested in the question would more
wisely approach it with a tendency toward doubt than toward implicit
belief; to doubt, however, that leads one directly to investigation. We
need to remember, however, that inaccuracy by no means connotes
inveracity. There is here no imputation against the honesty of any
writer, even when carelessness, exaggeration and inaccuracy are not
only alleged, but demonstrated to exist. A. L. Aurora, N.Y., 1914
---------
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
Another edition of this work being called for, the opportunity for one or
two emendations is afforded.
In the first chapter of the present work, reference is made to the
antivivisection societies of England, and, relying upon evidence given
before the Royal Commission in 1906, one of them is mentioned as the
"principal organization." The relative standing or strength of the
different societies at the present time would appear not to be
determined or easily determinable, and, of course, what was fact in
1906 may not be at all true ten years later. The matter would seem to be
of little importance as compared with the greater questions pertaining
to reform; but in the interest of accuracy the author would now prefer to
make no pronouncement concerning the relative rank of the English
societies, leaving