Misstatements of antivivisectionists : correspondence with American humane association / [by] W.W. Keen.

  • William Williams Keen
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Misstatements of antivivisectionists : correspondence with American humane association / [by] W.W. Keen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    could not look them up; but, as to those that I could, some are garbled and inaccurate; not all of them, observe. This, sir, is a most serious charge. You distinctly declared that of the cases personally investigated by yourself, as quoted in the pamphlet on Human Vivisection, some are garbled and inaccurate. We deny the charge, and again challenge pro duction of evidence upon which it is made. A garbled quotation is one which, by reason of omission and perversions, is essentially unfair. Sometimes it is a statement from which parts are omitted or transposed for the purpose of conveying a false impression. To omit quotation of parts not directly bearing upon the question for the sake of brevity—this is not garbling, for all quotations would then be impossible. We assert that in quoting accounts of the cases of human vivisection no omissions of essential facts have been made sufficient to impair the accuracy or fairness of the quotation. Let us put the matter to the test. Point out, if you can, the some casts which you found garbled and inaccurate, and in proof of the charge quote the omitted sen- tences or words ichich^ had they been inserted, ivould cause you and the general public to justify and approve the experi- ments on liuman beings ichlch we have so severely condemned. Third: You stated, sir, before the Senate committee that only two experiments upon human beings are alleged to have been done in America. I question, sir, whether that remark is quite in accord with the highest ideals of truth; it is the language of doubt; it seems to signify and imply that even you are aware of no other experiments upon human beings than two cases which are thus alleged. I am very confident, sir, that you will not venture formally to assert—what you have seemed to imply-—that you know of but two experiments upon human beings made in this country and recorded in the medical literature of the United States. There is indeed need of further enlightenment, if the medical profession of this country, so worthily represented by yourself, is ignorant of what has been done by men without pity and without con- science. Trusting to have response from you at an early date, I am. Yours most truly, James M. Brown, President. DR. keen's reply. 1729 Chestnut Street. PlIILADELPHTA, Pa., Jan. 21, 1001. J.\MES ]\r. Brown, Esq.. President American Humane Associa- tion, Toledo, Ohio. Dear ^ir:—Your letter of October 4 reached me promptly, but as I then notified you would be the ease, very pressing engagements, absence, etc., prevented an earlier reply. Now
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