The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-24
A SCIENTIFIC MENAGERIE.
Animals Maintained For Experiment
tai PurpOses.
From AZ WashlngLon san.


1t is not generally known that the de-
partment of agriculture has menagerie
in connection with it, but such is the
case The menagerie is not a very large
one, nor does it contain any rare or strange
animals. Most of them are of the domes-
tic variety. 1t is a part Of the division
of animal industry, and the animals are
used TO develop interesting cases of dis
ease and to illustrate the effects of an
epidemic of particular kind which the
division may wish to experiment on with
a view to stamping it out, and to test
various kinds of foods of which trial Is
thought to be efiicacious.
Comprised in this collection of animals
are rats and mice, guinea pigs, rabbits
different sorts of fowls, some cattle ana
sheep, and few others. The larger OF
the animals are kept at the breeding
place Of the department. on the Benning
road, while others are domiciled in the
basement of the division of animal Indus
try laboratory, near the bureau of en-
craving and printing. The division breeds
it's own smaller animals as in this way
when it wishes TO experiment, IL is as
sured of having them free from any con-
tamination.
Down in the basement. under the labor
atory which was visited recently by a
Star reporter, was seen a number of coops
and cages, in which were grouped guinea
pigs, rabbits and chickens The animals
seemed to be perfectly at home, and form
ed a seemingly happy family, as some
guinea pigs were in the cage with rab-
bits. One of the little white and black
creatures was nibbling at the whiskers Of
sleepy looking rabbit, which blinked
contentedly, as If II enjoyed the operation
or was too lazy TO resist any trespass
on the part Of the guinea pig
III IL l. \. 4
much the same appearance as has tramp
who has been forced to saw wood for a
meal at friendly inn" rested on top Of
a cage. The guinea pigs seemed to be the
life of the place, and ran In and out with
apparently little or no concern whether
school kept or not"
On some of the cages where the rabbits
were confined, printed in large black let
tiers, was the word rabies" Upon the
cards, also, were the warnings to the
attendants and others not to put their
hands in the cages. This meant that the
animals had been inoculated with hydro
phobia virus, and 1t was, therefore, dan
gerous to handle the animals. further
precaution taken in such cases, II Is said,
is not 10 inoculate animals carnivorous
by nature as they become terribly fero-
cious, nor any animals whose chief means
OF defense Is by biting. cat or dog for
instance will strive to bite when afflicted
with the disease, while a rabbit, which
is purely q 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 lit
tie quarters and conducted themselves
in all respects after the manner of their
kind Perhaps the poison had not begun
to take effect. All of the animals were in
spected by the visitors carefully. as If they
formed the most select and exclusive COM
munity in the world, instead on one which
had been allotted to yield up life for the
benefit of science.
1t was stated that one steer, which had
the "blackleg" remained at one Of the
experiment stations for about eight years,
and the persons there really became at
tached to 1t. 1t Is also a tradition of the
division Of animal industry that two goats
were once used for the purpose of sclen-
tifc experiment. The trial was deemed
to be most successful In every particular,
and wonderful results were expected,
when, unfortunately, the goats butted up
against the wall OF death. and left yearn-
ing hopes behind.