The History of Euphemisms in Lab Research
Animals used in research are often hidden from sight and objectified, or "de-animalized."
Melanie D.G. Kaplan writes about her experience with her beagle, Hammy, a former lab dog, in her book "Lab Dog."
We woke in Boston before daybreak as usual, and Hammy — my beagle, who was once a lab dog used in research — stretched, a squeak escaping from his yawn.
Kaplan met with Larry Carbone, a visiting fellow at the Harvard Law School Animal Law and Policy Program, at Boston Common, a historic park that has hosted many significant public gatherings.
- George Washington celebrated the nation's independence there.
- Women's suffragists held rallies.
- Charles Lindbergh inspired crowds with visions of the future of commercial aviation.
Author's summary: The use of animals in lab research is often hidden and euphemized.