The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-30
From the Washington Post.


 I P to this time public opinion has U6 been pretty evenly divided as to > the real nature, passions, and proclivities of that very interesting but much misunderstood animal. the rabbit For many years the rabbit has been re- ferred to by thoughtless persons as Molly Cotton-tail' or Bunny" together with various nicknames suggestive of dispar- agement and contempt. On the other hand thoughtful and observant men in all parts of the country have gradually reached the conclusion that the rabbit Is capable of extraordinary ferocity at times and that. under certain conditions, it de- velops homicidal gift quite as effectual as that of the black bear, the mountain lion, and the gaunt gray wolf of which we have heard so much during the past few years. The difference between the two rabbit schools Is that the former is stupefed by complacent nursery tales and legends, while the latter bases its philosophy upon ascertained facts and demonstrated theorems.
 But at last we hear new and author itative voice in the babel of contention the voice of Science. And to this we must listen with respect, If not with reverence. Let us consider the facts and then, if de- srable, moralize afterward. Within the past fortnight a patient was brought from Galveston. Tex. to the Bellevue hospital, New York. The victims case was diag- nosed as "relapsng' or famine fever arlral nd ladx little known and still less understood The patient was consigned to the care of Dr. A. M. Pappenheimer, one of the most accomplished specialists on the staff of the Bellevue. This gentleman's obser- vations and experiments confirmed the diagnosis of the Galveston doctor. It was q clear case of "febris reeurrens," ex- hibiting all the symptoms identified long ago by the famous Dr. Osler. He devel- oped at time a temperature of 107. and his pulse ran up to 140. Then the malig- nant indications would disappear and the sufferer show every sign of complete con- valescence But the alert and viglant Pappenheimer was not deceived. He had before him Professor Osler's careful anal ysis of the disease and he held his pa- tient under observation. The symptoms re- asserted themselves as the great authority had prophesied.
 At last. pr. Pappenheimer concluded that he would experiment in search of further light. He got one mouse, one guinea pig, and two rabbits, and inocu- lated them with the blood of the sufferer This covered the whole animal Kingdom
 
 propensties and instincts. Every lady in Washington will admit that she regards the mouse as the most terrible and ap- palling member of the animal kingdom. 1t was only a few months ago that the president of the Female Suffrage So- ciety,' or something of that sort. declared from the platform with every appearance of scorn and indignation that President Roosevelt. in the light of his remarks touching race suicide" expected the American woman to convert herself into an affectionate guinea pig. And there was the rabbit, which well informed men re- gard with apprehension as one of the ferciest and most relentless of beasts. pr. Pappenheimer covered all the ground pos sibe in his experiment. No one can deny that with a straight face.
 What was the result? Inoeulated with the blood of the raving patient, the mouse exhibited no sign of perturbation As usual, it seemed to have no longing above cheese. The guinea pig pursued its phil oprogenitive inclinations without pause. The rabbit, however. aroused from it's phlegmatic but deceptive calm by the powerful transfusion, at once gave rein to those violent and bloddthirsty procliv- ities for which it has long and justly been famous. It refused lettuce with scream