Evening journal., 1897-11-26
GOVERNMENT LIVE STOCK
Animals Kept by Uncle Sam for
Experimental Purposes.
The Collection Consists only of Such
Species as Are Common Upon
the Farms of This
\ Country.

II Is not generally known that the de-
partment of agriculture has mena-
rerie in connection with It, but such is
the case. The menagerie is not very
large one, nor does it contain any rare
or strange animals. Most of them are
Of the domestic variety. 1t is part of
the division of animal industry, and
the animals are used to develop interest
Ing cases of disease and to illustrate the
effects of an epidemic of a particular
kind, which the division rmay wish to
experiment on with a view to stamp
ing it out and to test various kinds of
foods Of which trial Is thought TO be
eflicacious.
Comprised in this collection of AMI
mails are rats and mice, guinea pigs, rab-
bits, different sorts of fowls. some cattle
and sheep, and few others. The larger
Of the animals are kept at the breeding
place of the department, on the Ben.
ming road, while others are domiciled in
the basement of the division of animal
industry laboratory, near the bureau of
engraving and printing. The division
breeds its own smaller animals, as in
this way, when it wishes to experiment.
It is assured of having them free from
any contamination.
Down in the basement, under the
laboratory, which was visited recently
by Star reporter, were seen a number
of coops and cages, in which were
grouped guinea pigs, rabbits and chick
ems. The animals seemed to be perfect
ly at home and formed a seemingly
happy family, as some guinea pigs were
in the cnge with rabbits. One of the lit
Gle white and black creatures was nib
bling at the whiskers of q sleepy-loolI-
ing rabbit, which biinked contentediy.
as if it enjoyed the operation or was too
lazy to resist any trespass on the part of
the guinea pig.
A dilapidated-loolSing chicken, which
had much the same appearance as has
tramp who has been forced TO saw
wood for n meal at friendly inn"
rested on top Of n cage. The guinea
pigs seemed to be the life of the place,
and ran in and out with apparently lit
tie or no concern whether school kept
or not"
On some of the cages where the rab-
bits were confined. printed in large
Upon the cards also were the warnings
70 the attendants and others not to put
their hands in the cages. This meant
that the animals had been inoculated
with hydrophobia virus, and IL was
therefore dangerous to handle the ami
mails. A further precaution taken in
such cases, it is said, is not 20 inoculate
animals earnivorous by nature, as they
become terribly ferocious, nor any anil
mails whose chief means of defense is
by biting. A cat OF dog, for instance,
will strive TO bite when afflicted with
the disease, while a rabbit, which is
purely a vegetarian, will simply NOPE
and die without making any resistance.
In spite Of the fact that the sentence
Of death, and an awful one at that, was
affixed to their cages, the rabbits did not
appear TO be otherwise than cheerful
and lively, and hoped nimbly about
their little quarters, and conducted
themselves in all respects after the man.
ner of their kind. All of the animals in,
spected the visitors carefully, as II they
formed the most select and exclusive
community in the world, instead of one
which had been allotted to yield W
life for the benefit Of science.
1t was stated that one steer, which
had the "blacl5leg," remained at one Of
Che experiment stations for about eigh
years. and the persons there really be
ramefattached to it. 1t is also tradi
ton OF the division of animal industr,
Chat two goats were once psed for tn,
purpose Of scientific experiment. Th'
trial was deemed TO be most successful
in every particular, and wonderful re
suits were expected, when, unfortun
ately, the goats butted up against tn
wall of death, and left yearning hope
behind.-Washington Star.