Some questions are answered concerning the origins of the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) concept in relation to animal experimentation, expounded 50 years ago by Russell and Burch in The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, by reference to some key publications and to correspondence in the W.M.S. and Claire Russell Archive, which is currently being established at the University of Nottingham. Some insight is also given into the relationship between Russell and Burch, the first use of “alternatives” in the Three Rs context, and the background to the publication of the book.
BurchR.L. (1995). The progress of humane experimental technique since 1959: a personal view. ATLA23, 776–783. Reprinted in ATLA 37, 269–275, 2009.
5.
RussellW.M.S. (1999). The progress of humane experimental technique. ATLA27, 915–922. Reprinted in ATLA 37, 277–283, 2009.
6.
RussellW.M.S. (2005). The Three Rs: past, present and future. Animal Welfare14, 279–286.
7.
WordenA.N., ed. (1947). The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals, 368 pp. London, UK: Bailliere, Tindall & Cox.
8.
BallsM. (2008). Professor W.M.S. Russell (1925–2006); Doyen of the Three Rs. AATEX14, Special Issue, 1–7.
9.
BurchR.L. (1954). Letter dated 18 October 1954 to W.M.S. Russell. WCR Archive.
10.
RussellW.M.S. (1954). Letter dated 9 November 1954 to R.L. Burch. WCR Archive.
11.
RussellW.M.S. (1996). In Editorial: Rex Leonard Burch (1926–1996). ATLA24, 313–316.
12.
RussellW.M.S. (1959). Letter dated 22 July 1959 to D.J.B. Copp. WCR Archive.
13.
SmythD.H. (1978). Alternatives to Animal Experiments, 218 pp. London: Scolar Press.
14.
HegartyT. (1971). Alternatives. In Animals, Men and Morals (ed. GodlovitchS., GodlovitchR. & HarrisJ.). London, UK: Gollanz.
15.
RussellW.M.S. (1995). W.M.S. Russell speech at the Awards Luncheon. In Proceedings of the World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences: Education, Research and Testing (ed. GoldbergA.M. & van ZutphenL.M.). Alternative Methods in Toxicology and the Life Sciences 11, 71–80. New York, NY, USA: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
16.
BurchR.L. (1954). Attachment to letter dated 18 October 1954 to W.M.S. Russell. WCR Archive.
17.
RussellW.M.S. (1954). Attachment to letter dated 9 November 1954 to R.L. Burch. WCR Archive.
18.
HumeW.W. (1954). Attachment dated 16 November 1954 to letter to P.B. Medawar. WCR Archive.
19.
MedawarP.B. (1954). Letter dated 22 November 1954 to W.M.S. Russell. WCR Archive.
20.
RussellW.M.S. (1955). A research on the history and progress of human experimental techniques. UFAW Courier11, 16–20.
21.
RussellW.M.S. (1957). The increase of humanity in experimentation: replacement, reduction, refinement. Collected Papers of the Laboratory Animals6, 23–25.
