Created by Anon.
16 Feb 1956
Description:

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1. Verbal report by Dr. Lane-Petter.

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Dr. Lane-Petter said that he had recently heard from Mr. T.E. Patterson in India that the present arrangements for the supply of monkeys were working smoothly. Arising out of para. 4 Section 3. of the Report, a revised Public Notice specifying the conditions for the export of monkeys, including the transit cage size, had yet to be published by the Indian Government, but he hoped that he had persuaded the Indian authorities to accept a cage of 19" in height. Referring to para. 1, page 6, of the Report, he said that the Indian Committee on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had welcomed the opportunity of hearing his views and were ignorant of many of the facts rather than critical of what he had to say.

In the course of the discussion on his report, Dr. Lane-Petter made the following comments on the present situation in India:-

(a) He thought much more had been gained by a long visit during which he had had the time to gain the confidence of the Indian authorities, than would have been achieved in a short visit by a high level delegation, the approach followed by the Americans.

(b) He did not consider that the Indian Government had raised difficulties from political or anti-British motives, but they had to be in a position to reply to active critical elements in Congress. To enable them to do this it was necessary to keep them adequately informed about British practice.

(c) He had obtained a definite indication that the Indian authorities were not concerned to obtain precise information as to the use to which individual monkeys were put. On the other hand, it was absolutely necessary that the Indian Government should not be given reasons to stop the supply, for example by any undesirable incidents such as that at London Airport.

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2. Report on the Views of the R.S.P.C.A.

Mr. Whittaker referred to the document "The Human[e] Shipment of Monkeys by Air from Overseas" (on the table), which had been prepared by the Conference called by the Council last July. The R.S.P.C.A. had refused to subscribe to it unless a clause deploring the use of monkeys for experimental work was included. At the same time they had approached the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and had subsequently submitted recommendations to him which were so stringent as to be obstructive. At a preliminary inter-Departmental meeting to discuss these proposals, the feeling among the representatives of the Departments concerned was that no action on them was required. A delegation from the R.S.P.C.A. had still to see the Minister. Mr. Whittaker thought that in general the Society were now seeking the enforcement of humane conditions rather than the abolition of vivisection.

3. Arrangements for the ordering and supply of monkeys.

(a) Arising out of Recommendation (1), Section 8, of Dr. Lane-Petter's Report, Mr. Whittaker said that he had submitted to the Indian authorities an estimate of 4,000 monkeys as the number needed for the next six months. The representatives of the three other main users, namely Burroughs Wellcome, Glaxo Laboratories and the Ministry of Supply, agreed to keep Mr. Whittaker in touch with their needs so that he might continue to make an over-all estimate of British requirements.

(b) There was some discussion on the part played by Shamrock Farms (Col. Lonsdale). in the present machinery for the supply of monkeys. It was agreed that the large stocks held at their Brighton farm had in the past formed a useful pool which could be drawn on in an emergency. Dr. Lane-Petter, however, felt that it was undesirable that the monkeys should undergo the journeys to and from Brighton and the waiting period at the farm, and now that supplies, at least of small quantities, could be obtained directly from India in a matter of ten days or a fortnight, this stage might be eliminated altogether. Moreover, the use of Shamrock Farms added considerably to the cost of the monkeys. He was prepared to make arrangements for small-scale sporadic users to be supplied either direct by the Medical Research Council or through him from stocks held by the other users if they were agreeable to any particular case.

The representatives of the other users present agreed that the most satisfactory arrangement was for the monkeys to travel direct from the airport to the laboratory. Mr. Adams said that Burroughs Wellcome were not at the present time prepared to give up using Shamrock Farms, but would inform Mr. Whittaker of their views when they had considered the matter further.

In winding up the discussion, the Chairman pointed out that the Committee was not in any event in a position to enforce any particular practice and that individual users would need to follow the course best suited to their needs. If, however, a user intended to cease dealing with Col. Lonsdale, it would be only fair to give him due warning.

5. Transport of monkeys.

In the course of the discussion various points were raised regarding the best care and treatment of monkeys during transport and afterwards:-

(a) Dr. Edward reported a number of cases of pneumonia among 3 recent shipments of monkeys. Dr. Lane-Petter said that it is essential that the animals not be exposed to cold on the journey and Mr. Short suggested that damp conditions might be the cause.

(b) Dr. Lane-Petter stressed his view that it was necessary to treat monkeys as convalescent during the period immediately after their arrival in this country.

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(d) One or two points were raised on feeding. Dr. Lane-Petter approved the present practice of leaving food trays in the cages throughout the journey. Dr. Goffe asked whether it would be possible to maintain the same diet, perhaps the standard diet 41, at all stages of captivity and transport. Dr. Lane-Petter said that this could not be obtained in India.

(e) With regard to caging arrangements, it was agreed that it was preferable to cage small rather than large numbers of monkeys together. A suggestion was made by Dr. Goffe that cages should be partitioned, and Dr. Lane-Petter, who welcomed the idea, agreed to ask Mr. Patterson for his views.'