The Sacred Duty of Every Man : 3.

New drugs are tried upon them. They are dissected later on to find out the effect of these drugs upon the internal viscera. Medical Colleges also make use of quite a large number of these animals for their day-to-day anatomy classes. We, in Bharatavarsha, are not so much aware of this aspect of the ill-treatment of animals, because this branch of science has not yet taken deep roots in India; but in the West medical science is taking vast strides day by day. It has shocked the susceptibilities of the Westerner himself. And a hue and cry has been raised against this practice of vivisection of animals in the name of science, and the Anti-Vivisection League has got its branches in many of the Western countries and it is carrying out a vigorous programme of propaganda to root out this practice.


In England we have even Anti-Hunting Bills introduced in the Parliament, so that this inveterate practice of hunting may be recognised as something which does not become a human being and which ought not to remain in civilised society.


The S.P.C.A. has got its branches in India also; and the members try to do what they can to stop cruelty and ill-treatment to Tonga-horses and the bullocks. They are also trying to see if they can stop the practice of sending the old decrepit cows to the slaughter house. As long as the cows give milk, the owner keeps them; and no sooner do they become dry and weak than, instead of harbouring gratitude in his heart for what they had done when they were in good condition, man shows a very devilish trait of ingratitude and tries to sell these poor creatures to the butcher, thereby trying to make a little profit even in the exercise of this vice. Even by ingratitude he tries to get some money. This is the attitude of human beings whose conscience has become blunted by long periods of non-exercise of virtues, forgetfulness of ideals, and the exercise of these vices that go unnoticed.

Sri Swami Chidananda

To be continued  ...