Evening star., 1918-02-22
SYNTHETIC MOUSE
/ ARRIVES AT MEADE
Camp Hospital BacterioIogicaI
/ Laboratory Is No Longer
/. Handicapped.

CAMP MEADE, Nd, February 22.-
The synthetic mouse-the brain off
spring of the surgical wizards of the
Meteorological laboratory of the base
hospital here-has arrived
Several weeks ago the medical men
were perturbed by the announcement
that the Army surgeons were being
greatly handicapped in their reaserch
work and the protection of the health
of the soldiers at the Army caVps
throughout the country on account of
the scarcity and prohibitive prices
which were being charged for white
mice heretofore considered essential to
a prompt diagnosis of the different
types of pneumonia
Patriotic citizens owning white mice
and other animals. like guineapIgs.
Belgian hareS and the like, which are
used in testing out dphtheria. pneu-
upon to donate them TO Army nos
pitals.
Response Not Adequate.
For one reason or other, the re-
sponse to this call was III no wise
adequate to the need, so the Army
surgeons here held a conference under
ington, division surgeon, and Maj. he
fauyer, commandant of the base nos
pital. Maj. kefauver made light OF
the discovery. is that any news. ne
Queried.
when Informed that the people of
Washington and the whole country
were anxious to learn every detall OF
the discovery. Maj kefauver explained
it in the following highly professional
terms:
TT is a medium for differentiating or
ganisms. In the laboratory we have a
dozen different kinds of media and we
have found that the particular media
TO which you refer takes the place OF
white mice in differentiating the va
rious types of pneumonia organisms
Organizing pigeon Division"
Mai George ellis, division signal Off
Ger, is organizing pigeon detachment
of fourteen enlisted men, experienced
organization is approved, the men who
are to compose this unit Will be trans
ferred from the branches of the service
In which they are now serving.
Each National Army cantonment will
have a detachment with about zoo
trained carrier pigeons before the
troops of the division leave for France.
Work on Meade's big pigeon loft was
started several weeks ago, and it soon will
be ready for the first contingent of
these feathered members of The new
National Army, which will act dis
patch carriers.
Only young pigeons. known as
sssquakerS." are used for this class
of work, as the older birds, when used
as dispatch carriers. have sometimes
forgotten their allegiance to the allies
and have flown with their important
dispatches to the enemy trenches.
These disloyal acts have cast suspicion
on all the old birds and they are no
longer used.
Young pigeons become attached to
the particular lofts and troops to which
they are assigned, and can be trusted
not to transfer their affections at
critical moments during engagements.
Welcomed Addition to Trench Fare.
One of the British divisions. Gen.
sector on the French front. had as its
nearest neighbor unit from Portugal.
The Portuguese troops had no carrier
pigeons, SO the British commander de-
cided to make them gift of some
birds to act as dispatch carriers when
other methods of communication were
put out of commission Six dozen or
more birds were sent over by detach-
ment of Tommies who neglected or
were unable to expain their use, be-
cause of lingual difficulties. and the
British command was very much sur
prised to receive note from the
Portuguese officers mess the next day
saying that the pigeons had been roast
ed and proved most welcome addi-