Enrique -- Dr. Williams is out of town on business, I think, and I know he can speak for himself, but since he can't at the moment I'd just like to say in his defense that `ease up on the research bashing' sounds a little harsh considering all he said was that he didn't like that MF sent so many ferrets off to research. Personally, I agree with you on this issue, but chose to say nothing because it is such a heated and personal issue. But, to give another veterinary perspective, I'm afraid I have to admit at the risk of losing some favour with some people on the list, though I offer no apologies for my stance, I believe in medically necessary animal research. We'd all be plagued by such simply irradicated diseases as smallpox and polio still today if it didn't exist, and as a person with a serious medical condition who's cure will probably only be found in that manner, I have to say that I believe strongly that some animal research is necessary. However, *please* understand that I do *not* condone the use of animals for such mundane `research' as cosmetics testing and other such nonsense. This sort of thing I am very strongly against. I do apologize if I offend anybody, but that is very definitely how I feel on the subject. Laura -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura L'Heureux, Trella, and Tribble, too `Have you hugged your ferret U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96 today?' [log in to unmask] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Posted in FML issue 0662]