Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-17

Life Of q Scientist as the SeasiAs-ApPli-
ances for Study and Invessis.sien-A
Great Deal Of Work Done Near the MID
die Of the Night-Methods-
In conversation lately with Prof. Henry
Nachtrieb, Of the state university, that gen.
sleman gave graphic account Of life at the
seaside laboratory near Beaufort, n. C., main
tanned by the John Hopkins university. Ac-
coriing TO the professors statement, the
laboratory has beer variously located on the
coast, at the rip Raps,- at Fortress Monroe,
at Hainpton, Va. etc; but the present loca-
ton is most favorable in many respectk
The laboratory is provided with an excel
lent watch, steam launch, q number Of row
boats, a dredge for collecting submarine
forms. small dredges for more delicate work,
with great variety Of Shovels and spades
for digging in the shoals There are also
several forms of dip nets and tow nets and q
large troll net The building occupied is Of
cypress wood, put together with copper
nails So far IS possible. each man Is given
a room and table. The appliances Tor pros
ecuting his work consists Of a microscope, q
number Of small glass vessels, and large
glass jar, in which he keeps his live material
for future use or for the purpose Of studying
appearance and habits Various instruments
and chemicals complete the outfit
The time for collecting the material de-
,ens.s on the tides a good deal Other things
being favorable, the evening when the water
Is very still is to be preferred. The yatch,
steam launch or row boats are called into
requisition as the occasion may demand. II
may be 10 or Il o clock at night before the
material is brought into the laboratory.
Then each of the men takes his tumbler full,
goes into the little room and consumes the
midnight hours In a patient study Of the
form of life which he finds in the water.
Most OF the animals are microscopic; that Is,
they uo.li seem 80 10 the uniritiated eye.
But the trained scientist can detect them in
the water quite readily Copious drawings are
made. and the live material is put 10 as much
U.s. rs possible ON the spot
AT4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
Each Of the men Is usually working up
some special animal and 10 that he devotss
his exclusive attention II may he that there
are ONLY certain hours of the day or night
y hen he can find his animal in the water. For
instance, one of the men discovered that the
animal he was working up discharged its
eggs only ut 4 O'Clock In the morning.
Accordingly, in order 10 study the early stages
Of the animal he was obliged to do his collect
ing at that hour.
A great deal OF the laboratory work is done
in or near the middle Of the night Perhaps
that accounts, in some measure, for the pecu-
liar feeling which the natives regard these
men of science They work at night and
make up for it by sleeping in the day time.
Very little dissecting or sectioning Is done at
the laboratory, partly from the fact that II Is
difficult to uSe chloroforIn in that damp,
humid climate, and partly because ii is pre-
ferrel TO study the living appearance and
habits of the animals when they are fresh, and
r,ser, the more minute study for the leisure
of the winter Accordingly the tiny organ
is;ns are hardened and colored and put up by
q delicate process Tor winter use.-St. Paul