Grex Hippie Conference

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Grex Hippie Item 18: The Draize Eye Test
Entered by craig on Thu Apr 23 03:04:47 UTC 1992:

The Draize Eye Test:

Typically, six to nine albino rabbits are placed in stocks to
prevent them from clawing at their eyes to dislodge the
substances.  Only their necks and their heads protrude.  The
lower lid of each animal's eye is pulled away from the 
eyeball to form a small cup.  Into that cup the technician
drops some milligrams of a substance to be tested.  The eye
is then held closed for several seconds.  With a particularly
caustic substance the rabbits scream in pain.

The rabbit's eye is then observed at specific intervals to 
see how severe the irritation is.  Is the lid swollen?
The iris inflamed?  The cornea ulcerated?  Are the rabbits
blinded in that eye?  The results are noted on charts in case
someone files a lawsuit against the manufacturer.  The rabbits
are then destroyed.  Rabbits are used because their eyes do
not produce tears as human eyes do.

4 responses total.

#1 of 4 by popcorn on Thu Apr 23 03:24:07 1992:

This response has been erased.

#2 of 4 by mistik on Thu Apr 23 04:14:14 1992:

I wouldn't want that job.  Meat cutters are at risk too.

#3 of 4 by n8lic on Thu Apr 23 22:46:27 1992:

  I feel that your description of the Draize eye test is a liitle on 
the graphic side. If I did'nt have a strong stomach, I would have been
barfing all over my dinosaur!!!
                                    :-(

#4 of 4 by craig on Fri Apr 24 04:30:05 1992:

Just telling it like it is.

As a matter of fact, I have a picture of an eye which was given the
test.  It says it all.  I could have been more graphic.

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