Animal Experimentation
Millions of animals die cruel and unnecessary deaths in research laboratories all over the world each year. Vivisection, “the practice of cutting into or using invasive techniques on live animals or dissecting the bodies of animals”, is unethical, causes untold pain and suffering, and is completely unnecessary. This type of experimentation does not benefit humans, and in fact, has very often proved to be harmful. Various tests and testing methods will be examined, particularly in regard to their effects on experimental animals. To further support the premise that vivisection is unnecessary, alternatives that are rapidly gaining support in the scientific community will also be explored. For decades it has been believed that experimentation through vivisection has provided enormous benefits for human beings. It was widely believed that animals and human beings shared parallel anatomies. Based upon this popular belief, new treatment methods and drugs were developed, while at the same time, many others were left undeveloped because of contradictory results from animal testing. New, in-depth research has proven that this philosophy is erroneous and has resulted in misleading information. “Animals
Two of the most infamous testing methods used on animals – the Draize test and the LD-50 test – prove that Charles Mayo was indeed correct. Victims of these tests are typically rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. These tests are usually carried out in laboratories associated with the cosmetics industry, as well as household and personal care product companies. The Draize test attempts to measure the harm caused by various chemicals. Substances that are often caustic are liberally applied to either the skin or eyes of conscious animals, who have had their vocal chords destroyed so that researches do not need to listen to their incessant screams. During the test the animals are immobilized and the eyes are clipped open. A solid or liquid is then placed in one eye of each of the test animals. Substances such as after-shave lotion, sunscreen, hairspray, and oven cleaner are just a few of the many compounds tested. For a number of reasons, Albino rabbits are the preferred subjects for the Draize eye irritancy test. These non-aggressive rabbits are ideal because their eyes are highly sensitive and very clear. Damage caused to the eye by chemicals is thus more readily apparent and occurs more quickly. These rabbits also have less well-developed tearing mechanisms, and as a result, they are unable to protect themselves by washing the irritating substances from their eyes. “The eye irritancy test compounds often cause irreparable damage to the animals’ eyes, leaving them ulcerated and bleeding.” They are truly helpless victims, and they suffer terrible pain and anxiety. Animals that manage to survive this test may then be further used in the Draize skin irritancy test. In this test similar methods are used, except the chemicals are applied to areas of raw, damaged skin. “Skin is abraded by firmly pressing adhesive tape onto the animal’s body and quickly stripping it off. The process is repeated until several layers of skin have been exposed.” When all of the tests have been completed, the animals that have survived are then killed so scientists can examine their internal organs to see if the applied substances caused any unseen internal damage. Another all too common procedure is the LD-50 test, which was developed in the 1940’s. It is an abbreviation for Lethal Dose
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Approximate Word count = 1546
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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