The Traffic in Old Horses

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The Traffic in Old Horses is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle published in the Daily Mail on 23 july 1909.


The Traffic in Old Horses

Daily Mail (23 july 1909, p. 7)

Sir A. Conan Doyle's Question.

To the Editor of "The Daily Mail."

Sir, — No one can read without horror the article of your correspondent upon the traffic in old horses. The question now is, what can be done to stop or at least to mitigate it.

One would like, first of all, to know what the R.S.P.C.A. [1] are doing. It is to check just such abuses that the public subscribes to their funds. Surely by judicious prosecutions it could be made a hazardous thing to pursue this trade. If additional inspectors are needed for the ports whence the horrible traffic is carried on, the public would, I am sure, answer any special appeal. I should be glad myself to send £20 for that end.

If the anti-vivisectionists would turn for a moment from imaginary horrors to real ones, why should they not employ some of their funds and energy in helping to combat this evil? The only permanent cure must come from some organisation which will keep pressure upon Parliament and upon the public conscience until a law is passed which will make such a traffic for ever impossible.

Arthur Conan Doyle.
Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex.





  1. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals