Hard-Fought Victory for Animals at Medical College of Wisconsin
After years of outreach by PCRM and its members, the Medical College of Wisconsin finally announced it has stopped using pigs in its first-year physiology course. Before using pigs, the laboratory used dogs. Now, students will observe human patients and use computer simulation. The college first announced that it would pilot this human- and computer-based program after a February 2009 PCRM demonstration.
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) used frogs, rats, and rabbits in other physiology laboratories as recently as January. But a school spokesperson says these small animal laboratories are under review and may not be offered next year. PCRM will urge MCW to complete the transition to nonanimal methods for all physiology teaching.
 Second Nature Book Tour
PCRM ethologist and biologist Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., is on an international tour making the case for animal intelligence and emotion. In his new book, Second Nature, Dr. Balcombe explains that animals, once viewed only as mindless automatons, actually have rich sensory experiences and emotional complexity. He spells out why the human-animal relationship needs a complete overhaul. Dr. Balcombe’s tour began in March and will continue through the summer.
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Learn more about alternatives to the use of animals in medical school curricula at PCRM.org/Research.
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