Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
In THE HYGIEN1c LABORATORY
AMONG The ANIMALS U5EDARE RABBITS

the world an institution of medical re-
search more important than that which
the government has here at W aShlngton
/ have visited the Welcome laboratories
at khartum, in the Sudan. They are de-
voted to tropical diseases-to the black
water fever the sleeping sickness and
other horrors of the upper Nile and mid
die Africa. There Is laboratory of med
zeal research in London and there are
others in Paris. Berlin and Vienna The
most of these are private institutions
carried on with private capital Our gov
eminent institution. known as the ny
gienic laboratory, is backed by the ma
ton. and it gets its appropriations from
Congress. 1t is connected with the ma
tional bureau of health, and 1t has so
grown that it is now one of the most
important of the government undertake
ings.
The hygienic laboratory consists of sew
eral large buildings which are devoted to
research work. 1t contains chemical and
other laboratories. specially fitted up
rooms in which germs and microbes or
all kinds are reared. rooms for the test
ing of diseases through study OF am
mails which have been infected with them
and all the machinery for modern medl-
cal investigation. 1t would take many
columns to give a record of the various
kinds of work now going on and de-
scription of what has already been &C
complshed. In this letter I can mention
now being studied and some of the meth
DDS by which the scientists arrive at their
conclusions.
One of the interesting features of the
laboratory is its study of human dis
eases through animals of one kind oI
other. Indeed, in one respect the institu-
ton might be called "Uncle Sans Medi-
cal Zoo for it has colonies of animals
which the government keeps on hand III
order that it may investigate through
them the diseases with which man Is
afflicted. These animals are inoculatec
with human blood taken from persons
who have certain d seases. They thus
catch the diseases and through them the
diseases are studied and investigated
The sick animal is given drug after drug
in order that the right one for this spe
cial ailment may be discovered Sucf
animals are carefully watched, theil
symptoms are noted, and. if necessary
they are killed and cut to pieces to ascer.
tain the origin and course of the disease
and how 1t may be controlled as 1t affects
man.
Among the animals used for this pur-
pose are guinea pigs, rabbits, nice ant
monkeys. We are said to be desce nded
from the monkey, and the monkey is the
nearest to man in it's makeup. It Is only
lately that it has been used in such IN
NcSllSdllOHSs Uut II Is pioNLlS W VIC VI
enormous value. AT present the govern
ment has on hand about three score o.
such monkeys, and it wants more. The
monkeys used come from India They
are of a species known as the Rhesus
which is said to be, of all monkeys, the
best for this purpose. These Rhesu:
monkeys are little fellows not much b'g
ger than a good-szed fox terrier. and are
quite as cunning. as mischieyous and a:
interesting as any monkey you will SEE
in the Zoo They are kept in cages in
monkey house and are taken out from
time to time they are needed in th'
Investigations.
In another part Of this same house J!