When to experiment on animals.

A new law controlling the use of animals in scientific experiments is likely to come into force in Britain this year. A government bill called Animals (Scientiflc Procedures) is now passing through parliament. New legislation is long overdue. Biology has undergone a revolution since 1876 when Britain last enacted a major piece of legislation. Scientific knowledge of what is and what is not likely to cause suffering in animals is now substantial. Furthermore, public concern about animal welfare has increased greatly. Scientists who simply want to be left alone to get on with their work cannot and should not ignore concern about the ways animals are treated in laboratories. Nor should they brush aside the animal suffering that can undoubtedly arise in research. Yet as debate intensifies a major worry is that all reason will fly out of the window. The positions on the use of animals in scientific work are likely to become so polarised that useful dialogue between experimenters and their critics will be exceedingly difficult.