Those who desire to advance science should begin as soon as they have passed their final examination to experiment independently in the laboratory; did so himself, and has also made a very few experiments at his own house, 4, 514-7.—Digest Ev. R. Com., p. 33.
McKendrick, John Gray, University, Glasgow. M.D. Aberd. and C.M., 1864; F.R.C.P. Edin., 1872; LL.D., 1882; (Univs. Aberd. and Edin.); F.R.S. Edin.; Prof. of Insts. of Med. Univ., Glasg.; Fuller Prof. of Physiol. Roy. Inst. Gt. Brit.; formerly Thomson Lect. on Nat. Sci. Free Church Coll., Aberd., 1879-80; Lect. on Insts. of Med. Extra. Acad. Sch., Edin.; Lect. on Physiol. Dick Vet. Coll., etc., etc.
Author of “Outlines of Physiology,” 1878; various Papers on Physiological Subjects in Trans. and Proc. Roy. Soc.
Held a License for Vivisection at University, Glasgow, Physiological Laboratory and Physiological Class Room; also unrestricted as to place in 1878-79-80. Certificates for Illustrations of Lectures in 1878-79-80.
Experiments on the eyes of living birds and mammals.
Does not see how legislation can regulate vivisection (3953-4); and fears it would retard the advancement of science (4012); has a private laboratory himself (3960-5); and disapproves of licensing places as likely to inconvenience competent and earnest men.…—Digest Ev. R. Com., p. 30.
“On an etherized animal, the degree of reflex stimulation produced by an electric current of predetermined intensity in immediate contact with the skin was noted. Afterwards the exposed cerebral hemispheres were simultaneously stimulated, to observe whether the reflex action produced by the first stimulation increased or diminished. This method only led to uncertain results.”—Review of “On the inhibitory or restraining action which the encephalon exerts on the reflex centres of the spinal cord” by John McKendrick (Edin. Med. Journ., Feb., 1874, p. 733), “Revue des Sciences Médicales,” Vol. IV., No. 7, p. 64.
“At this stage of the inquiry we examined the action of light on the eyes of living animals.… We accordingly instituted a series of experiments which were practically very troublesome. We examined the eyes—(1) of the living cat; (2) of the living pigeon; and (3) of the living owl. In all cases the animals were deeply under the influence of chloroform during the experiments.
“1. The Cat.—The animal was securely fixed in Czermak’s rabbit-holder. The skin around the orbit was reflected. The zygomatic arch was snipped through by bone forceps, so as to expose as much as possible of the side of the orbit. The cellular tissue of the orbit was then pushed aside along the superior and the lateral aspect of the eyeball, so as to reach the optic nerve with as little disturbance as possible to the vascular arrangements of the eyeball. On exposing clearly the optic nerve, and staunching hæmorrhage, the nerve was cut through transversely with sharp scissors. When this was done the globe could be pulled downwards, inwards, and forwards, so as to expose a clear transverse section of the nerve. With the head firmly fixed, one narrow clay point was now placed on the cornea, while the other was in contact with the transverse section of the nerve.”—“On the physiological actions of light,” by Dr. McKendrick and Mr. James Dewar.—Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin., 1876, p. 160.
McReddie, George. M.D. India.