a. [f. prec.]
1. Of or belonging to, of the nature of, vivisection.
1866. Westm. Rev., Jan., 148. It is impossible by vivisectional experiment to know which microscopical elements of the nervous tissues of the animal we destroy.
1876. Nature, XIV. 65/2. For the purpose of demonstrating physiological facts to students, vivisectional experiments are … not absolutely necessary.
1896. Daily News, 21 Aug., 6/3. The licensing for vivisectional purposes of the British Institute of Preventive Medicine.
2. Performing vivisection. Also fig.
1882. W. James, in Amer. Ann. Deaf & Dumb, April (1883), 116. Vivisectional physiologists.
1881. Times, 17 Jan., 6/1. A few lively touches, which were the first to vanish under the vivisectional hands of the cleaner.
Hence Vivisectionally adv.
1899. J. W. Ebsworth, in Roxb. Ball., IX. p. clxxx*. ‘The Maid’s Comfort’ and ‘The Merry Cuckold’ can be studied vivisectionally on pp. cxxix* and cxxxii*.
