Main menu
Select a language

"On the basis of probability theory we would have been better off tossing a coin."

"On the basis of probability theory we would have been better off tossing a coin."

This quote is taken from a paper by Dr David Salburg.  He was looking at compounds which were allegedly carcinogenic, testing them by bioassay. Just under 50% were definatively shown to be carcinogenic. His aim was to show that substances should be tested for carcinogenicity by administration of the maximum tolerated dose for the lifetimes of groups of rats and mice.

The quote, taken out of context, appears to highlight the redundancy of animal experiments, however the following sentence reads:

"This is not to imply that none of these compounds would not have been found to be carcinogenic in a properly designed lifetime feeding study."

 And a statment further on in the paper points out that:

"Most of these compounds have been shown to cause cancer in some animal models"

The quote, used alone, without context, therefore completely misrepresents the meaning of the paper, and when read in full, it is obvious that Saslburg was not making an attack on animal experimentation.



Last edited: 27 August 2014 05:49

Main menu
Select a language