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Computers allow researchers to do more work in a shorter period. But its very difficult to carry out, for instance, toxicity testing. The problem is our understanding of what to put into the computer. How can we tell a computer what is likely to interfere with the process when we don't understand how that process begins?
"If these alternatives existed they would certainly be used. Animals are not used for any economic purpose but because its impossible to make many medicines without them. Can you imagine what is involved in keeping animal houses and the bureaucratic difficulties? Nobody would do it by choice. Whenever an alternative research method becomes available its generally significantly cheaper than using animals."
Above: At Villejuif research is underway into the noxious effect of cigarettes. The machine has twenty glass stopper tubes which hold rats immobilised. Up to 20 cigarettes are lit up like fireworks for each one. A lack of funds has prevented the development of research which would put an end to animal experimentation in this area.
"If you are satisfied that the work is carried our responsibility, that and they are spare unnecessary distress; if you also want the benefits of Western medicine, then you have to accept vivisection"
They acknowledge that there is suffering, but argue that its considerably less than animal-rights campaigners suggest, In an articulate case for the defence of vivisection, (Man and Mouse,Oxford paperbacks) Sir William Paton, Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University has this to say on pain:
"I have never seen severe pain experienced by or inflicted on an experimental animal. It would destroy the effectiveness of the experiment through the psychological disturbance it causes."
He point out hat the particularly contentious categories of research are very limited: for instance, those involving application of substances to the eye are 0.45 per cent of the total: those involving burning or scalding are 0.00004 oercent and tests on food additives 0.4 percent.
He says that the public understand the reasons for an apparently frivolous test for instance on cosmetics, In 1985 there were 16,000 tests involving cosmetics and toiletries) In 1976 between 300 and 600 children aged nought to four were taken to hospital after consuming toiletries or cosmetics. But the anti-vivisectionists remain un-moved.
"In 2988 animals continued to be burnt, blinded, scalded, crushed, frozen and poisoned," said Jan Creamer"They will be used for the testing of all kinds of products from oven-cleaners to cosmetics, industrial chemicals to pesticides and still more useless drugs for an oversubscribed market. They will be used in riot control and weapon research, psychological research, and starvation and obesity research.
"Animal experiments are on their way out, but its going to need motivation to give it the final push because the scientific world is so conservative.
Above:An actrivity induction coi activated by remote control stimulates a specific part of the brain. Omnitored by an encephalogram. This gives an indication of aggressive response.