Dissecting a `myth'

Sir, - This is with reference to Dr. D. Balasubramanian's ``Vegetarianisation of education'' (Sept. 27). The purpose of animal dissection in schools is ostensibly to reinforce and clarify what is taught in the classrooms. But the same can be done with pre-dissected and preserved specimen. Secondly, the notion that dissection in school helps to create better surgeons is incredulous.

As a medical student, an aspiring surgeon studies the entire human body in detail. Then, as a trainee surgeon, he dissects living tissues with care and respect under the guidance of his teacher. Both types of dissection are structured, intensely practical and situation-based. In no way do they resemble the sort of dissection carried out in a school laboratory.

If this is not reason enough to abandon dissection in high schools, one should pay a visit to a wholesale ``educational supplies'' market to see the horrors perpetrated on animals. I am not yet an animal rights activist but I nearly became one when I saw frogs arriving in these markets stuffed in sacks. Some were dead and many barely alive. So, nothing can be said in defence of continuing animal dissection in schools.

Ramji Narayanan,

Jaipur

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