Vivisection: Science’s Cruel Experimentation

Since the development of knives, scientists have used cruel methods in the name of science. Billions of animals have been sliced, burned, crushed, electrocuted, tortured with drugs, poisoned with toxic chemicals, tormented in psychological testing, and subjected to various other atrocities that “scientists” have developed. This process is known as animal research, renamed from its initial and primitive title of vivisection (Vyvyan 33). This barbaric practice has been renamed to hide the truth: vivisection has been inherently cruel, wasteful, and perpetually invalid as a reliable source.

Although vivisection has been in existence since the beginning of time, awareness of this injustice to animals didn’t come about until the nineteenth century. During this time period, the French were notorious for their practices of vivisection. Stories of the experiments spread in French hospitals, and these stories caused a few scientists to rush to the vomitorium. Many vivisectors of that time period allowed medical students as well as “people of fashion” into their laboratories to view the “outre” entertainment (Vyvyan 3). People were horrified and disgusted in the Vict

funding for animal experimentation, with an annual budget of more than $13 billion (4).

Animal research may be necessary for some purposes, but the methods of vivisection are not. An immense business has grown from the manufacture of food, cages, and stereotaxic devices (Bender and Leone 156). The mistreatment of animals is an issue that needs to be taken more seriously. Scientists should concentrate on helping humans, rather than being preoccupied with morbid testing on animals and making money. Dr. Harry F. Harlow once said:

Vivisectors portray their industry to the public with the happy, anesthetized rat in a comfortable cage. They do not want the public to find out what their industry is really all about because they know that the public would erupt if they understood. To save the public from this truth, animal experimentation laboratories are built with no windows and expensive security systems(Point/Counterpoint 8). It is clear that the vivisectors do not want the public to know of the cruelty they do to animals.

The “Bunny Logo” was created to inform consumers that the product they are buying is free of animal testing (Stevens n.p.). There is no United States law that requires animal testing for establishing cosmetic or household product safety; however, since 1933, a number of cosmetic companies including Clairol Inc., Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer Inc. continue to test on animals. Many toothpaste companies brushed rats’ teeth for more than a month, and then their teeth were examined under a microscope. The rats were later killed. These tests were conducted in order for the toothpaste companies to receive the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. In 1995, Tom’s of Main worked with researchers on alternatives to this test. The ADA accepted these tests and the seals were awarded (n.p).

Vivisection has been used for many years on many different species of non-human animals. It is an unnecessary practice that can not take the place of actual human or human model experimentation. Some human-based research models include epidemiological studies (comparative studies of large human populations), in vitro research (cell and tissue studies), and clinical research (studies of human patients) (Stevens n.p.). Since animals differ from humans physically and psychologically, the data collected from experiments on them is often misleading and harmful when applied to humans. Karen Stevens, founder of the organization of All for Animals stated that:

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