New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13
JUST FOR SCIENCE.
rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Nice Kept
en- q HdYCard Basement.

In the basement Of Of the buildings OF Har-
ward University there is probably highly scien-
tifc collection OF rabbits. guinea pigs and mice
ever saw the light Of day. Not that they are
scientific from choice. No. indeed: for many are
the Wistful glances they cast daily toward the
grass and trees of the outer world And when the
sunlight slants down through the narrow basement
windows they have a way OF cuddling up within
the range OF its rays that anything but scientific
They are not scientific from choice; they have
simply had scientific honors thrust upon them.
Until they came to be part and parcel of Pro-
fessor E. /. Marks collection these little creatures
were just plain everyday rabbits guinea pigs and
mice, just eating ana living and feeling probably
less thankful because Of fact that they
were alive. Now il is different. The curl Of their
hair. the color OF their eyes, may mean much in
The future Of the human race. Without means Of
knowing II themselves. thsse little animals are
what they have proved. Just how much they are
expected 10 prove. Professor Mark who is director
of the Harvard geological laboratory is not yet
prepared TO say. But he intimates strongly that
the time is not far off when the little creatures
viii have accomplished results which will interest
and enighten II not astonish. the scientific world
j is in the hope Of fulfilling this belief that Pro
fessor Mark is experimenting with his little colec
ton. Given the best Of food and every possible
attention animal could desire. ii would be, to
say the least base ingratitude should the little
creatures fail to prove what is expected OF them
Each animal is kept IN the pink of condition The
cages. which are arranged in tiers. are large and
oommodious. light and airy. The whole basement
IS perfectly ventilated and no more resembles the
usual places in which such animals kept than
pigsty does a parlor. a careful record OF each
animal in the collection Is kept From the end Of
his nose TO the tip Of his tail a fact about
any % the animals in his collection escapes the
vigilant eye Of the professor The color and curl
OF the animals hair. the color Of his eyes. are
carefully noted any little deforInity or pecul-
isTity is sought FOR. All this and much else IS set
forth a specially devised chart. With rubber
stamp normal pelt is outlined in the record. This
shows the normal animal as he would look If cut
open and laid out like an open book, with the back
up On this chart IL possible 10 indicate clearly
any little popularity OF the animal under consid-
Grafton. With this chart carefully filed away for
future reference the rabbit, the mouse or the
guinea pig, the case may be. may do his best
at growing. No matter TO what degree Of per
lection he may attain he may be confronted at
any moment with the record Of the past. Grow as
he will, science has firm hold upon him; he
cannot escape. Even death does not terminate his
service TO mankind. He IS as valuable dead as
alive. for then that minute description Of himself
made long before applies not only TO his offspring
but 10 HIS Osprings offspring. If he had a crooked
zoe and that toe does not appear in any Of his Off
tp5etS,8T In, yTs N ,baT i Tdp1t t II means
peculisr1ues mean Professor Mark is not prepared
There is striking similarity, TO say the least
between these peeuliarities which manifest them
selves IN the rabbits, mice and guinea pigs Of Pro-
"a the human race from eeneTafJon 70 $500 p tf OUT
II the professor can determine lust what n is
IS responsible for these changes in the little ami
mails Gagged UP in that Harvard University base
workings Of heredty in man? Should he be sue
changes, get at the root Of the matter and possibly
IND some effective means OF preventing Insanity
or some other terrible affection being handed down
from one generation TO another. the world Will owe
70 the professor debt OF gratitude those lit
have lived in vain. ''' NV