27). Two of the most famous animal tests are the Draize, or eye .
irritancy test and the LD50, Lethal Dose 50. The Draize test is .
performed almost exclusively on albino rabbits, such as the Florida .
White, because they are cheap, docile, and are not "equipped" with .
tear ducts to wash away the chemicals. During the test the rabbits are .
immobilized in a stock with only their head protruding and a solid or .
liquid is placed in the lower lid of one eye of the rabbit; substances .
vary from mascara to aftershave and even oven cleaner. The rabbits .
eyes are clipped open and observed at intervals of 1, 24, 48, 72 and .
168 hours. It is important to note that, during this test, anesthesia .
is rarely used. Reactions include inflammation, ulceration, rupture of .
the eyeball, corrosion and bleeding. Some of these studies continue .
for weeks, and all the while no measures are made to reduce suffering .
or treat the rabbits.
Survival, however, will only lead to an entirely new set of .
tests, such as the skin irritancy or the LD50. Lethal Dose 50 refers .
to the lethal dose that is required to kill 50% of all animals in a .
test group of 40-200. Animals are force fed substances through a.
stomach tube, forced to inhale a substance, or have the substance .
applied to their rectum or vagina. These tests continue until half of .
the test animals die. During these tests animals will often endure .
excruciating pain, convulsions, loss of motor function, seizures, .
vomiting, paralysis and bleeding from every open orifice in the body. .
Any animals who somehow manage to survive these particular tests are .
subsequently destroyed (Sequoia, 29). There is also a Lethal Dose 100 .
test that determines the amount of a test substance required to kill .
100% of the test animals. Ironically, results of these tests are .
rarely, if ever, used in situation of actual human poisoning.
The skin irritancy test, similar to the eye irritancy test, is .