The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-19
INVESTIGATING
SOURCE OF LIFE
Scientists Hope to Produce Hu-
man Beings ArtiflciaIIy.
LARGE SUM FOR LABORATORY
Appropriation From Income Of The Carnegie
Fund, but Not Available Before
Next hovsmblr.
LARGE SUM FOR LABORATORY

New York. Aug. ls.-while no part OF
the income OF the slo,ooo.ooo given by
Andrew Carnegie to found the Cnrnegie
institution at Washington has yet been
awarded to the Marine Biological iabora-
tory at Woods Hou. Mass. whsre extra
ordinary scientific investigations Of all
that pertains TO NE are being made, the
laboratory will probably receive In Mo-
vember next sufficient financial aid from
prosecute Its work upon an adequate
scale.
TO DETERMINE SOURCE OBJ LIFE.
The dispatch from Chicago inttmated
that the specific purpose Of the appropria-
ton from the Carnegie fund would be
to advance a line Of investigati ton adopt
ed by DIR. jacques Loeb OF the. Universi-
~ OF Chicago. and by DIR. Albert r. Mat
thews. Of the same institution. Their
theory is that the male is not necessary
TO the propagation OF species and that
the males functions can be artincially
supplied.
While the experimental work of DIR.
Loeb and DR.. Matthews win be aided by
the appropriation to be made from the
Carnegie fund. the money VIII not be
given for that purpose alone. but for aid
ing and increasing the scope. generally OF
the Woods Holl laboratory, which has
made speciality Of the study Of marine
life.
One Of the trustees of the Carnegie
institution was seen by reporter today.
He said that a request for monetary as
sistance had come from the Woods Holl
laboratory. but that the request was
only one Of a great many which have
sought aid Of the Carnegie fund.
NO ACTION UNTIL NOVEMBER
No definite action would be taken on
any of the requests until next November.
he said, when a meeting of the trustees
will be held In Washington The trus-
tees are widely scattered. living In diff
ferent parts Of the union. and meetings.
therefore, can only be held at rare inter-
walls.
This summer" said the trustee, has
been given up to investigation. Presi-
dent Daniel G. Gilman OF the board. for
merly Of Johns Hopkins university. Is
abroad pursuing Investigations there.
Others OF the trustees are making inves-
LEGATIONS here, and at the meeting In
November the executive committee will
submit a report which will lead to some
definite steps to be taken. There are ex-
isting institutions which may be aided
like the laboratory at Woods Holl. and
a
work Of original research along certain
lines OF science"
The executive committee above re-
ferred to Is composed Of former Mayor
Abram 8. Hewitt DR. s. Weir Mitchell
Of PENNSYLVANIA. Carroll d. Wright Unit
ed States labor commissioner DR.. John
8. Billings. director OF the New York
public library; Secretary of War Eiihu
Root and Charles ID. Waicott Of Wash
ington-
LARGE SUM FOR LABORATORY.
The dispatch from Chicago intfmated
that a very large sum was to be devot-
ed to the Woods Holl~laboratory, enough
TO equip a separate laboratory for each
OF the scientists there and enough TO
permit each OF the scientists to draw up
on II for whatever was needed TO carry
ON his individual work.
From what was learned by the repQr-
ter today the sum that will be AWARDED
Will fall considerably short Of the ex-
pectations OF some OF the scientists. as II
may be as low as 10000. and In any
event will hardly exceed $4,000.
Prof. Loeb has made investigations not
only 10 get at the secret Of life but to
conquer the mystery Of death. SO far as
known hts successful labors In the arti-
ncial creation Of life have been the de-
yeiopment with chemicals. Of non-fer-
tiliged sea-urchin eggs. II has been
claimed by other biologists That the same
phenomena have been accomplished with
the unfertilized eggs OF certain worms
and starfsh.
TO PRODUCE HUMAN BEINGS.
That human beings can be artiicially
produced. or, In fact any mammal Is
deemed so far beyond the hope Of science
that a majority OF the trustees OF the
Carnegie Institution are not inclined to
devote any particularly large sum TO that
biological institution.
In his experiments on the prolongaticn
Of life Prof. Loeb used n small strip OF
the ventricles OF turtles heart. Sus-
pended In n solution OF sodium chloride.
the strip began to beat almost similar to
the normal action OF the heart the DIFF
ference being IN the regularity OF the
pulsations.
This. II is claimed, goes TO show that
it Is common salt In the blood that makes
the heart beat. and that II can cause the
heart 10 beat again after II has been
stopped by death
one OF the trustees Of the Carnegie
fund. I'm speaking OF Prof. Loeb's work.
said:
When he is able 10 produce chickens
from unfertiiixed eggs Il will be quite an