[Animal experiments and restriction of laboratory animals].

The position of animals in the community is being increasingly considered today. Interest is particularly directed to a number of controversial relations between man and animals, including experimental studies. This last-named category requires approximately 1.4 million animals annually. Experimental studies have undoubtedly contributed to the current levels of prosperity and welfare. However, there are ethical, scientific and economic reasons for advocating a policy directed towards restriction of the number of experimental animals. A policy of this type, directed to the substitution, reduction or refinement of experimental studies, should be both regulative and innovatory in character. Regulative in referring to the authorities, innovatory in referring to the development of methods of investigation which will relieve experimental animals, the so-called alternatives. The veterinarian, in his position of representative of the interest of animals, should direct a laboratory-animal-restricting policy either as a laboratory animal scientist or indirectly as a practitioner.