) I have incidentally observed one point in Euphorbia,
which has astonished me--viz. that in the fine fibrous roots of
Euphorbia, the alternate rows of cells in their roots must differ
physiologically, though not in external appearance, as their contents
after the action of carbonate of ammonia differ most conspicuously...

Wiesner of Vienna has just published a book vivisecting me in the most
courteous, but awful manner, about the "Power of Movement in Plants."
(765/2. See Letter 763, note.) Thank heaven, he admits almost all my
facts, after re-trying all my experiments; but gives widely different
interpretation of the facts. I think he proves me wrong in several
cases, but I am convinced that he is utterly erroneous and fanciful
in other explanations. No man was ever vivisected in so sweet a manner
before, as I am in this book.

CHAPTER 2.XII.

VIVISECTION AND MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS, 1867-1882.

2.XII.I. VIVISECTION, 1875-1882.

LETTER 766. TO LORD PLAYFAIR.

(766/1. A Bill was introduced to the House of Commons by Messrs. Lyon
Playfair, Walpole and Ashley, in the spring of 1875, but was withdrawn
on the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole
question. Some account of the Anti-Vivisection agitation, the
introduction of bills, and the appointment of a Royal Commission
is given in the "Life and Letters," III., page 201, where the more
interesting of Darwin's letters on the question are published.)

Down, May 26th, 1875.

I hope that you will excuse my troubling you once again. I received some
days ago a letter from Prof. Huxley, in Edinburgh, who says with respect
to your Bill: "the professors here are all in arms about it, and as the
papers have associated my name with the Bill, I shall have to repudiate
it publicly, unless something can be done. But what in the world is to
be done?" (766/2. The letter is published in full in Mr. L. Huxley's
interesting chapter on the vivisection question in his father's "Life,"
I., page 438.) Dr. Burdon Sanderson is in nearly the same frame of mind
about it. The newspapers take different views of the purport of
the Bill, but it seems generally supposed that it would prevent
demonstrations on animals rendered insensible, and this seems to me
a monstrous provision. It would, moreover, probably defeat the end
desired; for Dr. B. Sanderson, who demonstrates to his class on animals
rendered insensible, told me that some of his students had declared
to h