Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-07
90 MONKEYS COMING To TOWN
Will BE Used for Scientific In.
vestigation of Poliomyelitis.


1t Is expected that the work of making
scientific investigation into polio
! myclitis, which will be under the direc-
ton of DR.. b. II. Stone of the State
laboratory, by the Vermont State board
of health, will be begun in less than n
week at the new laboratory which has
been htted up especially for the work
at the college of medicine at the unvcr-
sity The changes have been nearly com
pleted and word was received yesterday
that the larger part OF so monkeys,
which have been purchased for the in
Vestigatlon and experiments, would ar
rive In this city from New York to-
day.
The monkeys have been on their way
for some time, having but recently ar
rived in New York from their native
homes in Asia and Africa. Their pur-
chase vi made more difficult on ac-
count On tnc European war; most of the
collectors being Germans. In New York
they were subjected to a most rigid ex-
animation to he sure there was not
diseased one among them and about
twenty per cent. were Culcd out. Thcso
monkeys are of the Macus Rhesus breed
and 1t was necessary to get this especial
breed as the South American monkeys
have prehensle tails. which make them
much more difficult to handle Monkeys
having prehensilc tails have the eou.-
valent of five feet
Everything for the comfort Of the
monkeys has been provided. They will
occupy "a steel cages distributed in three
well-lighted heated and ventilated rooms
There will be a room for those who are
well, those acutely sick and those con-
valescing. These rooms are lined with
cement and have cement floors arranged
with drainage so that they may be flush
ed each day, and in this way kept
absolutely antiseptic. The rooms have
been covered throughout with a water
proof paint. Each room has it's own spe-
cial Ventllatng system, the air being
sucked out by an electrically driven motor
from the bottom, while fresh air comes
In at the top. The monkeys will be treat
cd with all the consideration which a
human patient would receive at hos
pital, being thoroughly etherized before
any experiments are started. They will
he given regular rations, which con: st
OF pasteurized milk, bananas peanuts
and bread. regular hospital routine
VIII be carried out which will require
the time of an extra man.
DR.. Harold L. Amos, has been enparod
by the state board of health which re-
Gently received large contribution of
money from a private source to carry
on the work Of investigation and treat
ment Of crippled cases resulting from
inlantlle paralysis, He comes to this
state from the Rockefeller Institute at
New YORK. where he was closely allied
with DR.. Simon FloXner, it's head, In an
investigation into poliomyelitis. He will
be here long enough to give those in
charge of the Investigation all OF the
facts and advantages cleaned from the
investigation at the Rockefeller Institute
ana the work Will be begun here where
1t was left off there. These are practt-
cally the only two laboratories in the
country whore such work is being car
ried on and the doctors in Vermont will
receive advice at all times from the
Rockefeller Institute. The cause Of the
disease has been found to be Il tiny germ
in fact so small that as yet 1t has been
difficult to study it, and attempts to
grow IT have for the most part failed
Tho investigation here will be to nnd
out how the disease is spread what may
be done to immunize individuals against
II ana the length OF time a patient who
has had the disease should remain in
quarantine, 1t is expected that far
reaching results will be accomplished at
the laboratory with much patient work
The laboratory itself where the work
is to be done Will have all the neces-
saries of the modern operating room and
this. as well as the rooms whore the
monkeys are to be kept, has oeen
ranged so that it will be thoroughly anti
septic The whole laboratory could not
be better situated IN this city as regards
light. air and general situation, oc-
cupying as 1t does the southwest corner
medicine building
This laboratory has been equipped and
Will be maintained by the Vermont
State board of health with money from
the fund donated to it for the purpose
of studying poliomyelitis. The college Of
State board of health by furnishing in
the medical building at the head of Pearl
street. free of all charge, housing quart
ers. light and heat for the laboratory.
This laboratory will be under the super
vision of DIR. r. II. Stone, director Of
the laboratory Of hygiene and pathoogist
at the college of medicine, with DIR. f. S.
Towne, resident bacterioogist 1t is
hoped that light may be thrown on
some of the puzzlng problems OF cpl
demic poliomyclitis which have hereto
fore baffled clinicians and epidemiologists
alike.