Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-12-02
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.

1t is not generally known that the de-
partment OF agriculture has a mena-
gerie 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 may wish 10
experiment on with view 10 stamp
ing it out and to test various kinds OF
foods of which a trial is thought to be
elficacious.
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
" at home and formed a seemingly
happy family, as some guinea pigs were
in the cage with rabbits. One Of the lit
lie white and black creatures was nib
bling at the whiskers of a sleepy-look-
ing rabbit, which blinked contentedly.
as if it enjoyed the operation or was too
lazy to resistany trespass on the part Of
the guinea pig.
A dilapidated-looking chicken, which
had much the same appearance as has
tramp who has been forced to saw
wood for a meal at friendly inn"
rested on top of cage. The guinea
p;gs seemed to be the life of the place,
and ran in and out with apparently lit
lie OF 10 COuCS1u MACOAOA h'NHOS+ "a ~
or not"
On some of the cages where the rab-
bits were confined, printed in large
black letters, 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 inoeulated
with hydrophobia virus, and it was
therefore dangerous to handle the ami
mails. A further precaution taken in
such cases, it is said, is not to inoculate
animals carnivorous by nature, as they
become terribly ferocious, nor any ami
mails whose chief means of defense is
by biting. A cat or 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
anpear to be otherwise than cheerful
and lively, and hoped nimbly about
their little quarters, and conducted
themselves in all respects after the man
nor of their kind. All OF the animals in
sDeeted the visitors carefully. as if they
formed the NEST select and exclusive
nornnaunity 10 the world, instead of one