Artifact 8.

"vivisection." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press.,
2003. Answers.com 24 Jan. 2007. <http://www.answers.com/topic/vivisection>.

vivisection: dissection of animals for experimental purposes.
-- has expanded in recent years to include all experimentation on animals.

The practice contributed to the outstanding progress that was made in the 17th cent. by William Harvey in understanding the circulation of blood.

Animal exprimentation didn't 'become widespread in Europe' until the 19th century.

Regulations against animal testing have been affective since 1985.

Private organizations in the US that deal with vivisection include:
-American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
-National Anti-Vivisection Society(NAVS)
-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

"Animals most frequently used in the laboratory include rats, mice, ginea pigs, rabbits, and monkeys."

"When animals more closely resembling humans in size and structure are needed, dogs and chimpanzies may be utilized."

I don't understand why they don't always need animals that are 'more closely resembling humans' if they are experimenting for the safety of humans.

"Animal experimentation is especially advantageous if offspring of several generations are to be observed: for instance, about 5 generations of mice can be observed in a year, whereas in humans the same experiment would require over 100 years."

I guess that makes sense.