Research Defence Society.

Abstract

IT is said that the fifth year in the life of any society is the critical period of its fortunes. The Research Defence Society was founded on January 27, 1908. To all who are interested—and who is not?—in medical research, we beg you to let us say that the society has its hands full of work, and only wants more money to do more work. Much has already been done, by lectures and by distribution of literature, to bring home to people the truth about experiments on animals in this country, and the great value of them, not only to mankind, but also to the animal world. The expenses of our society are heavy; but the good results of our work are extended far and wide. We have lately opened a bureau and exhibition at 171 Piccadilly (opposite Burlington House). We are exhibiting pictures, portraits, charts, anæsthetics and inhalers, germs in pure culture, tsetse-flies and mosquitoes, and so forth. This little exhibition, every day, and all day long, displays to “the man in the street” the facts of the case. We are the only society which is doing work of this kind; but, of course, it cannot be done without money. Our record for the last four years gives us the right to hope for a great increase of our membership, and of our funds, in the coming year.