100 100 Reprint Reprint The The now now famous famous case case of of the the seven- seven- teen teen Silver Silver Spring, Spring, Maryland, Maryland, labora- labora- tory tory monkeys monkeys has has spawned spawned adjunctive adjunctive debates, debates, such such as as the the one one engaged engaged in in by by William William Raspberry Raspberry and and me me in in The The Washington Washington Post Post in in October. October. The The question question here here concerns concerns the the exclusivity exclusivity of of regard regard for for various various life life forms. forms. A brief brief background: background: Acting Acting under under the the Maryland Maryland anti- anti- cruelty cruelty law, law, Maryland Maryland police police on on Sep- Sep- tember tember 11, 11, 1981 1981 seized seized seventeen seventeen mon- mon- keys keys from from the the I nstitute nstitute of of Behavioral Behavioral Research Research in in the the Washington Washington suburb suburb of of Silver Silver Spring. Spring. The The police police had had been been notified notified of of alleged alleged improper improper care care and and treatment treatment of of the the animals animals by by an an I BR BR volunteer volunteer worker, worker, Alex Alex 23-year-old 23-year-old George George versity versity student student rights rights activist. activist. is is a Pacheco. Pacheco. Washington Washington also also an an animal The The Uni- Uni- nimal In the the wa wa ke ke of of th th is action, action, the the National National I nstitutes nstitutes of of Health Health investi- investi- gated gated the the laboratory laboratory and and studied studied the the affidavits affidavits sworn sworn to to by by veterinarians veterinarians and and primatologists primatologists who who had had viewed viewed the the conditions conditions after after closing closing hou hou rs. rs. N. N. I. I. H. H. then then suspended suspended its its $200,000 $200,000 grant grant to to Dr. Dr. Edward Edward Taub, Taub, IBR IBR investigator, investigator, for for his his work work on on the the effects effects of of somatosensory somatosensory deafferenta- deafferenta- tion, tion, i.e. i.e. severing severing the the nerves nerves of of the the primates' primates' upper upper forelimbs. forelimbs. The The limbs limbs become become useless useless and and seemingly seemingly without without sensation. sensation. Taub Taub was was developing developing tech- tech- niques, niques, such such as as shock shock and and food food dep- dep- rivation, rivation, to to stimulate stimulate use use of of the the affected affected limbs limbs techniques techniques that that might might be be applicable applicable to to persons persons with with injuries injuries to to the the central central nervous nervous sys- sys- tem. tem. N. N. I. I. H. H. charged charged that that veterinary veterinary care care had had not not been been provided, provided, that that I BR's BR's animal animal care care committee committee was was improperly improperly E&A E&A 11/4 11/4 constituted, constituted, that that physical physical facilities facilities for for housing housing were were inadequate, inadequate, that that condi- condi- tions tions were were unsanitary, unsanitary, that that and and employees employees had had an an inadequate inadequate occupa- occupa- tional tional health health program. program. The The N.1. .1. H. H. suspension suspension action action and and its its report report were were not not admitted admitted as as evi- evi- dence dence at at the the trial trial on on the the grounds grounds that that the the action action was was taken taken after after the the sei- sei- zure. zure. After After a week-long week-long trial, trial, Judge Judge Stanley Stanley Klavan Klavan of of the the Maryland Maryland Dis- Dis- trict trict Cou Cou rt rt handed. handed. down down the the verdict verdict of of guilty guilty of of cruelty cruelty on on six six counts. counts. Six Six monkeys, monkeys, he he judged, judged, had had been been deprived deprived of of adequate adequate veterinary veterinary care care for for fractu fractu red red bones bones and and serious serious infec- infec- tion. tion. The The conditions conditions resulted resulted from from self-mutilation self-mutilation that that characterized characterized nearly nearly all all of of the the deafferented deafferented mon- mon- keys. keys. The The case case is is being being appealed. appealed. The The trial trial was was attended attended by by a cross-section cross-section of of individuals individuals of of the the animal animal welfare welfare and and scientific scientific communi- communi- ties. ties. A few few days days prior prior to to the the Rasp- Rasp- berry berry column, column, the the Washington Washington Post Post printed printed a col col umn umn concentrating concentrating on on the the humane humane supporters supporters prominent prominent in in the the nation's nation's social social and and theatrical theatrical life. life. After After the the Raspberry Raspberry column column the the news- news- paper paper was was flooded flooded with with protests. protests. Only Only mine, mine, in in an an edited edited form, form, was was printed. printed. Ann Ann Cottrell Cottrell Free Free (Editor's (Editor's note: note: William William Raspberry's Raspberry's column column below, below, (c) (c) 1981 1981 by by Washington Washington Post Post Co., Co., is is reprinted reprinted with with permis- permis- sion. sion. Ann Ann Cottrell Cottrell Free's Free's response response is is repri repri nted nted with with her her permission.) permission.)
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