Cruel knives? Vivisection and biomedical research in Victorian English Canada. 1997

J T Connor
Hannah Institute for the History of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario.

This discussion shows how the use of animals in biomedical research in Canada evolved during the latter half of the nineteenth century from simple demonstrations to more sophisticated series of experiments. More important, however, is the argument advanced that Anglo-Canadian society's response to vivisection and the use of animals in research centred on issues such as cruelty, exploitation, and broader notions of religion, power, and gender. This exploration of vivisection in Victorian Canada, then, reveals that it was, as elsewhere, a complex debate involving more than the use of animals for biomedical research purposes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D012106 Research Critical and exhaustive investigation or experimentation, having for its aim the discovery of new facts and their correct interpretation, the revision of accepted conclusions, theories, or laws in the light of newly discovered facts, or the practical application of such new or revised conclusions, theories, or laws. (Webster, 3d ed) Research Priorities,Laboratory Research,Research Activities,Research and Development,Activities, Research,Activity, Research,Development and Research,Priorities, Research,Priority, Research,Research Activity,Research Priority,Research, Laboratory
D002170 Canada The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000827 Animal Welfare The protection of animals in laboratories or other specific environments by promoting their health through better nutrition, housing, and care. Animal Cruelty,Cruelty, Animal,Welfare, Animal
D001675 Bioethics A branch of applied ethics that studies the value implications of practices and developments in life sciences, medicine, and health care. Biomedical Ethics,Health Care Ethics,Ethics, Biomedical,Ethics, Health Care
D014824 Vivisection The cutting of or surgical operation on a living animal, usually for physiological or pathological investigation. (from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dict, 10th ed) Vivisections
D049672 History, 19th Century Time period from 1801 through 1900 of the common era. 19th Century History,19th Cent. History (Medicine),19th Cent. History of Medicine,19th Cent. Medicine,Historical Events, 19th Century,History of Medicine, 19th Cent.,History, Nineteenth Century,Medical History, 19th Cent.,Medicine, 19th Cent.,19th Cent. Histories (Medicine),19th Century Histories,Cent. Histories, 19th (Medicine),Cent. History, 19th (Medicine),Century Histories, 19th,Century Histories, Nineteenth,Century History, 19th,Century History, Nineteenth,Histories, 19th Cent. (Medicine),Histories, 19th Century,Histories, Nineteenth Century,History, 19th Cent. (Medicine),Nineteenth Century Histories,Nineteenth Century History

Related Publications

J T Connor
November 1978, L'union medicale du Canada,
J T Connor
January 1977, Ethics in science & medicine,
J T Connor
June 1998, Clinical and investigative medicine. Medecine clinique et experimentale,
J T Connor
January 1897, The Hospital,
J T Connor
January 1992, Healthcare management forum,
J T Connor
November 1997, The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques,
J T Connor
August 2017, Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences,
J T Connor
October 1978, L'union medicale du Canada,
J T Connor
January 1970, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique,
Copied contents to your clipboard!