Evening star., 1933-06-11

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Mr.. Yochelson and his attendants maintain
constant guard over the little white rats
in an effort to raise happy and contended
breed Of laboratory animals Their nervous
systems must not be easily shocked by unusual
circumstances Their mental and psychological
adjustment is Of utmost importance when they
are placed in experimental cages and on 1abo-
ratory tables, IN cities and institutions distant
from their birthplace in washington. Abino
rats react quickly to favorable or unfavorable
conditions and will lcse weight when subjected
to strange happenings or people. For this yea~
son visitors are discouraged and even customers
are rarely permitted to come too close to the
cages
Some blind and naked rat pups days old
and looking like tiny scraps Of hamburger we're
being arranged In line in one cage, for photo
graphic purposes. The mother rat, placed near
her offsprings to give an idea Of relative sises.
didn't care for the treatment afforded the
pups. Her mother instinct" was too strongly
developed, even If she was only rat. She
ran over and grabbed each one Of her pups
by the scrun Of the neck and tossed it back
ward over her head into the sawdust. And;
then she leaped over and covered the removed
jumble of non-protesting bodies from view
under pile Of sawdust. This procedure &C.
CURED each time lineup" was attempted
and photograph of the litter was obtained. :,
The attendants with whom the mothers have
become familiar, however, are permitted In
fact, expected, to daily pet the rats, talk TO-
them and play with them. This procedure =
relished by the rats. 1t also serves to gentle
them to human association. They have be-
come so accustomed to cage life that they Will
not usually leave their homes" even though
the doors may be left open for days and free
dem" seems assured Tanning them into state
of fearless contentment is Of primary Importance
yet time e-consuning task
against wild rats and mice which may enter
the buildings and breed with and infect the
white rats with parasites and disease breeding
heas. Sometimes such accidents occur. 1hen
Mr.. Yochelson takes strenuous measures 70
disinfect and fumigate the colony by means
Of steaming the cages in a special chamber,
while the inmates are undergoing chemical
baths and a thorough "delousing" It may now
be realized that the careful and scientific breed
ing Of white rats is far from an easy problem
Referring 70 an earlier statement Of rst,S
prolific reproduction, Mr.. Ycchelson offers me
startling statement that he has secured four
generations OF rats in one year. Occasionally.
he has seen Is or 16 pups in one litter.
lady scientist was absorbed In choosing
some rats for her laboratory. It was remark.
able TO see the perfect ease with which she
handled the little rodents and her complete
absence Of fear. She peeped through many
cages. opening some to inspect the rats and
stroking them gently as she lifted them cut
for closer scrutiny.
We remarked it was rather surprising to eee
. woman so fearless of rats, when We had been
taught that all women were in deathly fear Of
them. 1t was almost as great a silattering q
childhood belief as the Santa Claus fable
"A fear OF rats Is absolute nonsense" ND
Mr.. Yochelson The women of my family
treat my stock with utter fearlessness. 1hey
don't run screaming for . chair each time they
see one. And my boy-'Sonny Boy we eau
him-he carries them around in his pockets an
day, with no Inconvenience whatever. There
he is-playing with some that gave him for
pets. See how they scamper all over hinp
And he's almost baby.
Nutrition experiments are greatly aided b.
using rodents The quality and value Of mast
foods and drinks are being first tested on rots
to determine just how much vitality, weiSht
vitamtns. calories or proteins certain edible
or liquid may be expected to impart = q
human.
White rats can be cured Of scabs or OBJ
simple skin disorders by simply adding oranges
to their diet. Unvaried meals, the ~pisd
Piper" warns his customers. win make the sa1ss
incisor teeth grow through lips, cheeks ana
facial muscles And when one hears thae
his stock would become sterile without one oc
the elements contained in fresh lettuce, =
very startling discovery. The "Pied Piper>
must always keep an anxious and accurate
check over the menus of his "pampered guests.
One valued breeder was undergoing treaG-
ment for pneumonia. The remedy was ~
CoNtinHed on Thirteenth Page i5,g4,,