§ 27. Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what animals have been used in experiments involving the forced inhalation of tobacco smoke; and what means are employed to make them inhale the smoke.
§ Mr. WoodhouseAnimals which have been used in experiments involving the inhalation of tobacco smoke include rabbits, rats, mice, guinea-pigs, desert-rats, pigeons and hens. Some experiments involve the introduction of tobacco smoke into the animal's mouth or, in the case of hens, into the air sac. In other cases, animals have been kept in an atmosphere containing a high tobacco smoke content.
§ Mr. BurdenBut would not my hon. Friend agree that the animals used in these experiments must suffer agonies of fear and pain? Would not he also agree that in America, where the experiments have been discontinued, and in this country, not one animal has been induced to contract lung cancer? As human beings willingly and voluntarily smoke, despite medical warnings, what are the reasons for inflicting these diabolical experiments on animals purely to try to prove that they can be induced to contract lung cancer?
§ Mr. WoodhouseOn the advice that we have received in the Home Office, I do not think it is true to say that the animals involved in these experiments suffer agonies. I am told that it causes them no more discomfort to inhale tobacco smoke than it causes human beings.
As to the value of the experiments, I would remind my hon. Friend of the scope of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities, which do not include adjudicating upon the usefulness of a particular piece of research, or assessing the results of scientific work.