[Experiments in animals (author's transl)]

Experiments in laboratory animals are designed to safeguard patients and subjects from possible injury which might be caused by an experiment. It is also expected, however, that results will be more rapidly obtainable, more accurate and more reliable in laboratory animals. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, small animals in particular have been adapted for research by standardization of the genetic pattern, the microflora, the feed and the environment. This was primarily done for the benefit of particular forms of research; subsequently, the need of adapted experimental animals for all research in behalf of medicine, biology, public health and veterinary medicine was recognized. A number of future developments in the field of experimental studies in animals are the following: standardization of large animals such as monkeys, increasing attention devoted to the choice of the animal model and to controlling the conditions in which an experiment is carried out and the coming into operation of the Experiments in Animals Act. These developments will require increasing expertness and close co-operation between investigators, laboratory animal scientists and animal technicians.