This vintage directory book from 1884 has been digitally converted to downloadable format. A great classic for the home or classroom, an interesting old-fashioned reference book, and an outstanding find.
PREFACE:
It was reported at the time of the Franco-German war that the Prussian soldiers profited much by their general acquaintance with the geography of France, and by the possession of convenient pocket maps furnished to them of the invaded districts.
To supply the combatants in the Anti-Vivisection Crusade with some such knowledge, and such cartes du pays of the physiologists’ ground, was the original purpose of the Vivisectors’ Directory, as prepared for The Zoophilist. It was recognised by those engaged in the thick of the fight against scientific cruelty that it was impossible to retain in the memory the names of all, even of the most notorious Vivisectors, or to attach to them their particular class of experiments; nor, in the case of English physiologists, was it practicable to recall without continual reference to the whole series of Parliamentary Returns what were the Licenses and Certificates wherewith they have been annually provided. These facts,—so often needed in controversy,—it was proposed to marshal in the compendious form of a Directory, so that each Zoophilist possessed of a copy should be enabled at a moment’s notice to tell in which province of the “doloroso regno” of Research each Vivisector might be found, what were his titles and address, and the books he had published; and (if he were a British subject) how many Licenses and Certificates he had received.
It is hoped that this original purpose of the Directory has been fairly fulfilled, and that Anti-vivisectionists will universally find it to be a very serviceable book of reference. It is not pretended that it is a perfect work, that the names of all the Vivisectors in Europe have been ascertained, or their worst deeds always ferreted out. Great pains have been taken to make the list thus complete, and several able agents have been employed for the purpose abroad as well as at[iv] home, under the editor’s supervision. But years would have been needed for the exhaustive completion of the task, and the publication would have been indefinitely delayed. As it now appears, the Directory presents (it is confidently believed) a mass of reliable information in a convenient form, and at a moment when it is urgently needed for use in our sorrowful controversy.
But even while this first purpose of the Directory was being patiently carried out, it became obvious to those concerned that the work would fulfil at the same time another and still more important end. As name after name appeared for registration, and cruel experiment followed cruel experiment in endless variety, the utility of the Directory as affording evidence of the extent to which Vivisection is now carried on in Europe, became revealed. No doubt or dispute, it was obvious, could possibly attach to this testimony. There can be no question here of that “exaggeration” or those “sensational appeals” wherewith our opponents are wont to charge us. There can be no “sensational appeal” in a Dictionary; nay, care has been taken that there should not be one single epithet editorially applied to any experiment recorded from first to last. The Directory is a mere dry Register, like an ordinary Medical or Clerical Directory of names, dates, places, degrees, books, pamphlets, licenses, and certificates. Only some verbatim quotations are added, with exact references to chapter and verse. If these should happen to convey most damning accusations, it is the Vivisectors themselves who have registered their own offences. (continued)
PREFACE:
It was reported at the time of the Franco-German war that the Prussian soldiers profited much by their general acquaintance with the geography of France, and by the possession of convenient pocket maps furnished to them of the invaded districts.
To supply the combatants in the Anti-Vivisection Crusade with some such knowledge, and such cartes du pays of the physiologists’ ground, was the original purpose of the Vivisectors’ Directory, as prepared for The Zoophilist. It was recognised by those engaged in the thick of the fight against scientific cruelty that it was impossible to retain in the memory the names of all, even of the most notorious Vivisectors, or to attach to them their particular class of experiments; nor, in the case of English physiologists, was it practicable to recall without continual reference to the whole series of Parliamentary Returns what were the Licenses and Certificates wherewith they have been annually provided. These facts,—so often needed in controversy,—it was proposed to marshal in the compendious form of a Directory, so that each Zoophilist possessed of a copy should be enabled at a moment’s notice to tell in which province of the “doloroso regno” of Research each Vivisector might be found, what were his titles and address, and the books he had published; and (if he were a British subject) how many Licenses and Certificates he had received.
It is hoped that this original purpose of the Directory has been fairly fulfilled, and that Anti-vivisectionists will universally find it to be a very serviceable book of reference. It is not pretended that it is a perfect work, that the names of all the Vivisectors in Europe have been ascertained, or their worst deeds always ferreted out. Great pains have been taken to make the list thus complete, and several able agents have been employed for the purpose abroad as well as at[iv] home, under the editor’s supervision. But years would have been needed for the exhaustive completion of the task, and the publication would have been indefinitely delayed. As it now appears, the Directory presents (it is confidently believed) a mass of reliable information in a convenient form, and at a moment when it is urgently needed for use in our sorrowful controversy.
But even while this first purpose of the Directory was being patiently carried out, it became obvious to those concerned that the work would fulfil at the same time another and still more important end. As name after name appeared for registration, and cruel experiment followed cruel experiment in endless variety, the utility of the Directory as affording evidence of the extent to which Vivisection is now carried on in Europe, became revealed. No doubt or dispute, it was obvious, could possibly attach to this testimony. There can be no question here of that “exaggeration” or those “sensational appeals” wherewith our opponents are wont to charge us. There can be no “sensational appeal” in a Dictionary; nay, care has been taken that there should not be one single epithet editorially applied to any experiment recorded from first to last. The Directory is a mere dry Register, like an ordinary Medical or Clerical Directory of names, dates, places, degrees, books, pamphlets, licenses, and certificates. Only some verbatim quotations are added, with exact references to chapter and verse. If these should happen to convey most damning accusations, it is the Vivisectors themselves who have registered their own offences. (continued)
