<p>‘I profess to learn and to teach anatomy not from books but from dissections, not from the tenets of philosophers but from the fabric of nature.’ This timeless quote by William Harvey, a renowned English physician, stresses the importance of dissection in unravelling the marvels of the natural world. However, it also sparks ethical debates about sacrificing innocent creatures for educational purposes.</p>.<p>This quote reminds me of my high school days when we had to dissect a rat in our biology practical. I vividly recall the first session of our practical class. We lined up in front of the dissection table, each with a rat to dissect and learn from. The smell of formalin, a preservative for biological specimens, still lingers in my mind. Taking the scalpel to make my first incision was a daunting task, and I remember trembling with hesitation. Some classmates swooned or developed nausea at the sight of the creature to be dissected.</p>.<p>As I recollect those moments, I realise that many of my classmates, including me, hated those practical sessions. But if it were not for our biology teacher’s encouragement and support, we would have never withstood our practical classes. I recall a particularly challenging session where one of my classmates had to dissect a pregnant rat. He began to sweat profusely at the very sight of it. Another time, there was a rat on the dissection table with a throbbing heart! As time passed, my sympathy for the creatures surpassed my initial distaste.</p>.<p>While we gained valuable educational insights from all this, the question <br>of ethics remained. Though we can learn the anatomy of a species only through dissection, as William Harvey stated in his quote, seeing creatures cut open and discarded after study was overwhelming.</p>.<p>Several years after I passed out of Class 12, I learned that the government had banned animal dissection at the school and college levels. Thankfully, our juniors were spared the ordeals that we faced. The government has brought in more humane alternative methods like 3D models and virtual tools, providing a superior learning experience. Now, students have the advantage of exploring anatomy in depth, without causing any harm to animals. Thus, ethical practices are being supported more.</p>.<p>All said and done, my personal experience with science has been a journey of both fascination and discomfort. The ban on the dissection of those poor creatures shows that we are evolving into a more compassionate world. As more modern teaching methods have come into existence, it is clear that learning the anatomy of living creatures need not come at the cost of empathy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As Albert Einstein said, “If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.” Food for thought!</p>
<p>‘I profess to learn and to teach anatomy not from books but from dissections, not from the tenets of philosophers but from the fabric of nature.’ This timeless quote by William Harvey, a renowned English physician, stresses the importance of dissection in unravelling the marvels of the natural world. However, it also sparks ethical debates about sacrificing innocent creatures for educational purposes.</p>.<p>This quote reminds me of my high school days when we had to dissect a rat in our biology practical. I vividly recall the first session of our practical class. We lined up in front of the dissection table, each with a rat to dissect and learn from. The smell of formalin, a preservative for biological specimens, still lingers in my mind. Taking the scalpel to make my first incision was a daunting task, and I remember trembling with hesitation. Some classmates swooned or developed nausea at the sight of the creature to be dissected.</p>.<p>As I recollect those moments, I realise that many of my classmates, including me, hated those practical sessions. But if it were not for our biology teacher’s encouragement and support, we would have never withstood our practical classes. I recall a particularly challenging session where one of my classmates had to dissect a pregnant rat. He began to sweat profusely at the very sight of it. Another time, there was a rat on the dissection table with a throbbing heart! As time passed, my sympathy for the creatures surpassed my initial distaste.</p>.<p>While we gained valuable educational insights from all this, the question <br>of ethics remained. Though we can learn the anatomy of a species only through dissection, as William Harvey stated in his quote, seeing creatures cut open and discarded after study was overwhelming.</p>.<p>Several years after I passed out of Class 12, I learned that the government had banned animal dissection at the school and college levels. Thankfully, our juniors were spared the ordeals that we faced. The government has brought in more humane alternative methods like 3D models and virtual tools, providing a superior learning experience. Now, students have the advantage of exploring anatomy in depth, without causing any harm to animals. Thus, ethical practices are being supported more.</p>.<p>All said and done, my personal experience with science has been a journey of both fascination and discomfort. The ban on the dissection of those poor creatures shows that we are evolving into a more compassionate world. As more modern teaching methods have come into existence, it is clear that learning the anatomy of living creatures need not come at the cost of empathy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As Albert Einstein said, “If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.” Food for thought!</p>
