Animal Protection
[The Duchess of Hamilton. President of the Animal Defence Society, contributes a record of the International Animal Protection Cortress at Vienna. The many letters we receive—besides those which we are able to publish in our correspondence columns—bear witness to the intense interest felt by readers of the Spedator in the cause for which she pleads.—En. pectator.] THE Congress was opened in state on the morning of May 12th by the President of the Austrian Government, Herr Wilhelm Miklas, who delivered a most excellent speech on the place of Animal Protection in the civilization of the world. He was followed by speeches from the ex-President, and many other members of the Austrian Government, including Dr. Edward Melkus, President of the Vienna S.P.C.A., who most ably presided over all the subsequent meetings of the Congress. Many hundreds of people were present at the opening. For the first time in history an Animal Protection Congress was opened by the President of the country in which it was held, and supported by members of his Government. This fact constitutes a landmark in moral progress. The Congress was also supported by the diplomats of nearly all the nations resident in Vienna, most of whom were present.
Miss Lind-af-Hageby and I (Hon. Director and Presi- dent of The Animal Defence Society respectively) gave greetings to the Congress in the name of Great Britain. Other speeches of greeting were given by Maitre Louis Lespine (France), General Horst Kilhlwein von Rathenow and Dr. Kramer (Germany), Professor Pauli (Italy), Frau Maczewska-Knappe (Poland), Senor Julia (Spain).
In the following days many remarkably good speeches were made, not only at the very large public meeting on Monday, the 18th, which took place after an imposing procession of thousands of people and their dogs through the streets of Vienna, but at other sittings of the Congress itself. I will only refer to a few, such as that made by Professor Dr. Johannes tide, Professor of Theology at the University of Graz, who spoke on "Alcoholism and Cruelty to Animals." Professor tide presented a most striking figure, a veritable incarnation of St. Francis, as, clad in the robes of a priest, he stood declaiming against the cruelties inflicted on God's creatures and pointing the higher way.
He was followed by the Chinese delegate, who spoke on the wrong of flesh-eating and cited Buddha and Confucius.
Miss Lind-af-Hageby and I spoke on the failure of so much animal protection owing to the lack of any bridge of communication between those who feel for the suffering animals and those who actually. deal with them, such as drovers, butchers, laboratory attendants, &c., and a lack of practical and detailed instruction as to how animals should be treated. We further de- scribed the International Bureau which we have opened in Geneva, with its extensive Humane Exhibition arranged on educative lines, where the wrongs done to animals are exposed, and the right method of treating animals shown by means of models. We also spoke on our model humane abattoir at Letchworth, describing its appliances for bringing in the animals humanely and stunning them with a mechanical instrument.
Illustrated lantern lectures were given by Dr. Klein, of Lennep, on the Jewish method of slaughter, demon. strafing its inhumanity ; by Dr. Max Muller, of Munich, on the new invention of electric stunning for use in slaughterhouses, now, being perfected in Munich ; by Professor Feldhaus, Switzerland, on -Vivisection—of special interest since the film was prepared by vivisectors, and depicts a typical example of the work being done in research laboratories ; by Monsieur de Clerq, Holland, on the educatian work done in Holland. Professor Walter, Graz, gave a lecture on the late Karl Krell and his educated horses.
Other particularly instructive speeches were given by Veterinary Director Osberg, of Sweden, on the question of transport of animals, the most important item of which was his suggestion that Customs rates should be altered so as to make it more economical to send dead meat from country to country than to export living animals. He also suggested that motor transport .could be made a better method for animal' transport than .. Veterinary Dr.. Alfred. Schopper, of ,GermanY, spoke on the exceedingly severe suffering and cruelty inflicted on animals all over the world by inefficient people castrating by primitive methods and Without anaesthesia. Miss Lily Loat (England) gave an excellent little address on the suffering inflicted on calves in vacci- nation. It appears that in Germany there is more con- .sideration for the calf, which is -killed before the pus used in preparing the vaccine is scraped from the animal's abdomen, whereas in England the calf is kept alive and is sent to the butcher afterwards.
Herr Rabbiner Max Ellgutha spoke on Animal Protec- tion in the Old Testament; in particular he cited a passage in Proverbs xii. 10, which he told us is wrongly translated and should be, " The just knows the soul of his animal but the compassion of the wicked is cruelty."
Professor Pauli, from Italy, told us of the Institution by Signor Mussolini of special police for the protection of animals.
• Throughout the Congress much practical teaching was -given, and a high ethical and philosophic note was struck, particularly by the German and Austrian delegates, showing a real understanding of the importance to civilization of the animal cause. The Congress was originally meant to finish on the .Thursday morning, but there was so much to be done that the proceedings had to be prolonged and the Resolutions passed on Thursday afternoon. These resolutions comprised nearly every aspect of cruelty to animals, including the neces- sity for united action all over the world in the matter of humane slaughter of animals. There were also resolu- tions against Vivisection. On the:point of the resolution -against cruel trapping the members of the Congress were much interested in the warm and lovely artificial furs displayed at the Congress and worn by Miss Lind-af- Hageby and myself.
The proceedings terminated by our all voicing our most deep and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Edward Melkus for the charming manner. in which he had presided, and the kindness and consideration which he had shown to every member of the Congress.
The following day we visited a most delightful little watering place, Baden, near by, where we were received by the Mayor. I would strongly advise anyone in this country who 'suffers from rheumatism to take advantage • of the- facilities afforded there for bathing in the waters Of the , warm sulphur springs, taking sun-baths, and revelling in the delicious music. Which' seems to abound in* Vienna.
A little story to end. As we sat in the restaurant one evening, at the Bristol Hotel, enjoying the music 'after the hard work of the day, .a particularly exquisite melody- was being played. On asking the name' of the composer, to our surprise we' were' told'. it was the head waiter, Herr A.' Walter, Who Spends all the spare time he has from his official duties in bringing down to earth' the fair music of- the spheres !
NINA HAMILTON AND BRANDON
Previous page
