Origin of animal experimentation legislation in the 19th century.

The first legislation in the world, designed to protect animals used in res earch, was passed in England in 1876, and is still in force today. It is on e of the strictest in Europe. At the same period, France had no such law, a nd was the country conducting the greatest amaint of animal experimentation . Comparing, these two countries, in the middle of the 19th century, can ac count for this difference. The most important difference seems to be relate d to the theological question: are animals endowed with a soul? Saint Augus tine, claimed, in the 4th century, perhaps because of an experiment with th e centipede, that animals do not have a soul. In the 17th century, Rene Des cartes, using a different philosophical system, reached a similar conclusio n, in France. On the other hand, under the influence of Charles Darwin, Eng land rejected the Roman Catholic conclusion, about the soul of animals. The industrial revolution, occurring earlier in England than in France, also c hanged the society, developing urban areas, where people were cut off from rural life and changing human relationships with animals. The industrial re volution enabled the development of the press, giving impetus to public opi nion. These facts, combined with a caution of science, which was more devel oped in England than in France, brought about the first important "anti-doc tor" campaign.