Sir, - Dr William Reville recently defended animal experiments by trying to reassure his readers that animals in Irish research laboratories were held "in optimal conditions with every effort made to ensure that experimental manipulations are painless" (Science Today, February 28th).
Unfortunately, physical and psychological suffering, distress, pain and lasting harm are inevitable consequences of animal research, which is why the practice must be licensed by the Department of Health. Furthermore, the conditions in which dogs, rabbits, and other animals are kept in laboratories are far from optimal, small, bare cages are the norm.
Why defend the indefensible cycle of animal suffering in laboratories when not using animals is improving the quality of medical research? Instead, much more money and effort should be put into developing and using nonanimal-based research technologies that would dispel the outdated belief that using animals is essential for medical progress. - Yours, etc.
Yvonne Smalley, Irish Anti-Vivisection Society, PO Box 13, Greystones, Co Wicklow.