In this point of view, Dr. Philip has the highest
merit. That gentleman discovered that in many
cases the newly-dead animal might he substituted
for the living one, not only without disadvantage,
but with the great advantage of at once avoiding
the infliction of pain, and its effects in complicating
the result of the experiment. In every possible
instance, therefore, his experiments were made upon
subjects incapable of feeling pain. It was, in fact,
but taking the rabbit killed as for one purpose, and
applying it to another and a higher one.
In all cases, the subject of experiment should be
chosen from the lowest order of animals appropriate
to our purpose, as the least sentient; whilst every
device should be employed, compatible with the
success of the experiment, for avoiding the infliction
of pain. The batrachian reptiles are especially
animals of this kind; and for many physiological
purposes, they may be promptly deprived not only
of sensation, hut of motion, by a means which will
be described in an early part of this Essay.
Lastly, it should be received as & fifth principle,
that every physiological experiment should be performed
under such circumstances as will secure a
due observation and attestation of its results, and
IiIWIi— i I I iMiliif11Iff
so obviate, as much as possible, the necessity for
its repetition.
With these objects, physiological experiments
should, if possible, only be instituted with the aid
of competent witnesses. Sources of error will, in
this manner, be detected, should they exist, whilst
unequivocal truths will be duly authenticated. The
necessary repetition of the experiment will be instituted,
while its unnecessary repetition will be
avoided.
In order fully to accomplish these objects, it
would be desirable to form a society for physiological
research. Each member should engage to assist
the others. It should he competent to any member
to propose a series of experiments, its modes,
its objects. These should be first fully discussed,—
purged from all sources of complication, prejudice, or
error,—or rejected. If it be determined that such
series of experiments be neither unnecessary nor
useless, in the sense which I have attached to those
terms, they should then be performed, repeated if
necessary, and duly attested. Lastly, such experiments,
with the deductions which may flow from
them, may then he published with the inestimable
advantage of authenticity.