The Research Defence Society : Mobilizing the Medical Profession for Materialist Science in the Early-Twentieth Century

Abstract

Medical scientists felt threatened by initiatives such as the Anti-Vivisection Hospital, and were concerned that anti-vivisection groups had more money to spend, and more public support, than they did. To co-ordinate their response to a second Royal Commission on Vivisection, set up to address the antis concerns, UCL physiologists set up the Research Defence Society. During the first half of the twentieth century, the RDS waged an effective campaign: Mobilising support in parliament and among the medical profession, and taking action against anti-vivisectionists. Their successes included blocking the Dogs Protection Bill and arranging for the charitable status of anti-vivisection to be revoked.