HC Deb 08 July 1909 vol 7 cc1410-1
Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a public experiment performed by Dr. Waller on a bulldog at the conversazione of the Royal Society at Burlington House on 12th May last, whereby a leather strap with sharp nails was secured around the dog's neck, his feet being immersed in glass jars containing salts in solution, and the jars being connected by wires with galvanometers; whether, in view of section 6 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, which prohibits any exhibition to the general public of experiments on living animals calculated to give pain, he will say whether a licence has been granted to Dr. Waller for the performance of this experiment; whether Burlington House has been registered by the licensee for this purpose under section 7 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; and whether any action has been or is being taken in reference to the matter?

Mr. GLADSTONE

Yes, Sir; and I have made inquiries. Dr. Waller held no licence for this demonstration, and Burlington House is not registered under section 7 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876. I understand the dog stood for some time in water, to which sodium chloride had been added, or, in other words, a little common salt. If my hon. Friend has ever paddled in the sea, he will understand the sensation. The dog—a finely developed bulldog—was neither tied nor muzzled. He wore a leather collar ornamented with brass studs. Had the experiment been painful, the pain no doubt would have been immediately felt by those nearest the dog. There was no sign of this, and I do not propose to take any action.

Mr. E. GRIFFITH

After that exhibition of humour on the part of the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask what was the source of his information that no pain was inflicted upon the dog under the circumstances?

Mr. GLADSTONE

Oh, yes. I have seen Dr. Waller and have made the acquaintance of the dog, which is accustomed to this sort of thing, and likes standing in the water.

Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

What was the object of this exhibition?

Mr. GLADSTONE

To show the pulsation of the heart, and other interesting matters, in the human body. It was absolutely painless.

Mr. KENNEDY

Did the right hon. Gentleman receive the assurance of Dr. Waller that the animal was not drugged while the operation was on?

Mr. GLADSTONE

The thing is absurd. It was a perfectly ordinary demonstration which might be carried out at any moment and in any place without the slightest pain to the dog, and for the edification of those looking on.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the person who furnished him with his jokes that there are Members of this House who regard these experiments on dogs with abhorrence?

Mr. GLADSTONE

I certainly shall not. The jokes, poor as they are, are mine own!