II.

Historical Perspective

The use of animals in scientific research dates back to literature from 500 bc, with research by Alcmaeon of Croton on optic nerve function. Techniques for dissecting living animals were improved by Galen of Pergamum and his experiments were later involved in the 16th-century discovery of blood circulation by William Harvey and the heart's pumping action for blood circulation. Up until the 18th century humans were envisaged as the only alternative to using animals for scientific research, and it was advocated that criminals in particular should be the subjects of vivisection. By the 19th century, however, even the use of dead bodies was regulated.

The focus on animal experimentation increased and its use was defended by Claude Bernard and other leading scientists. Louis Pasteur, who pioneered the field of infectious diseases, developed antibiotics with the use of animal experiments. Advocates of nonanimal research, such as Lawson Tait, claimed that the diseases of animals were different from those of human beings and concluded that vivisection was worthless. In 1959 Burch and Russell formed the concept of humane research to help develop experiments that utilized animal-free techniques.