sir,

as every one who is capable of forming a sound judgment on the subject is convinced that the relief of human suffering in future depends chiefly on the progress of physiology, i hope that you will find space in your columns for the enclosed article by dr. richardson, which has just appeared in “nature”.² the article shews in a practical manner, and more conclusively than anything that has been published elsewhere, the necessity of experiments on living animals. women, who from the tenderness of their hearts and from their profound ignorance are the most vehement opponents of all such experiments, will i hope pause when they learn that a few³ such experiments performed under the influence of anaesthetics, have saved and will save through all future time, thousands of women from a dreadful and lingering death. it is humiliating to reflect that those to whom mankind owe the deepest debt of gratitude should now be overwhelmed by falsehood and calumny

i am, sir, | your obedient servant | Charles Darwin

Down, Beckenham

June 23^rd. 1876.