6oo 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



some cells and a food for others, it is impossible to say. While 

 these questions remain open, it might be safe to assume, that if a 

 food, the tissues are possibly, in conditions of health, able to pro- 

 duce all they need of it. If it is mainly a waste product, they 

 should not be burdened with any more of it than necessary. 



II. Experiments upon Kittens were broken in upon and 

 complicated by accidents and disease to such an extent that we 

 shall pass them by with a brief mention. 



During April of 1895 four kittens were obtained,* the two 

 males, which we will call 1 and 2, from the same litter ; the two 



1 895 



. male: 



.FEMALE..., 



GROWTH OF KITTENS. 



Fig. 3. 



2,4,6,6^, NORMAL. 

 1. 3, ALCOHOLIC. 



females, 3 and 4, from an unrelated litter. The males were born 

 April 2d ; the females, March 18th. 



From April 23d to 29th they were weighed daily and studied 

 as to health, liveliness, and general comparability. All four 

 purred and played normally, but it was evident that 1 and 3 were 

 considerably more vigorous and active. Both 3 and 4 had sore 

 eyes a rather serious indication of poor nutrition. Nevertheless, 

 these were the most nearly comparable two pairs of kittens avail- 

 able at the time. Some doubts were entertained, but it was 

 thought possible to bring 2 and 4 up to a comparable health level. 

 Accordingly, allowing this much handicap to alcohol, it was de- 

 cided to take the vigorous pair (1 and 3) for alcohol, and keep 2 

 and 4 for normal controls. 



Alcohol, chemically pure, \ was now given, beginning with a 

 dose of 1'3 gramme per kilogramme of body weight April 29th. 



* Given by their respective owners with full knowledge as to the experiment to which 

 they were to be submitted. f Tested by evaporation at room temperature. 



