8o2 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



largest weighiDg 260. The last one of Tipsy's whelps was born 

 dead ; all of Topsy's were born alive. 



Both Demme * for man, by comparing normal with alcoholic 

 families among the Swiss, and Mairet and Combemale f in experi- 

 ments upon dogs, have attempted to 

 prove that deformity, degeneration, 

 involving especially the brain, and 

 a number of abnormities of a nerv- 

 ous character may be caused by 

 chronic alcoholism of the parents. 

 We have also Morel's X account, so 

 often quoted, of degeneration in an 

 alcoholic family to idiocy and ex- 

 tinction in the fourth generation. 



With these things in mind, it is 

 of interest to note that two of Tipsy's 

 puppies were hare- lipped on both 

 sides, a serious deformity of the face. 

 All of Topsy's puppies were normal- 

 FiG. 11. Topsy, October, 1896. ly developed. TMs might be inter- 

 preted as confirmation of the above 

 authors. However, practically all the value of such complicated 

 experiments depends on repetition and upon adequate controls. 

 The smallest puppy of Topsy II presented the same abnormity in 

 exaggerated degree. 



From the first litters each mother has thus to her credit four 

 healthy living puppies, and Tipsy's are in no wise inferior. In 

 Tipsy's second litter, February 1, 1897, three were deformed, two 

 were born dead, and the remaining two proved to be nonviable. 

 This may indicate a progressive deterioration, but any interpre- 

 tation of it had better be delayed until more evidence is obtained. 

 It is sufficient to indicate that results are likely to increase in 

 definiteness as the experiment proceeds. 



At the suggestion of Dr. Billings, a confirmatory experiment 

 was undertaken in which, instead of chemically pure alcohol, the 

 ordinary beverages whisky, wine, and beer were administered. 

 The experiment was begun with three female puppies from the 

 same litter, half sisters to Tipsy and Topsy, obtained from Mr. 

 Browning. These were named Frisky (whisky), Winnie (wine), 

 and Berry (beer). It was first attempted to get them to take 

 their respective drinks as beverages, to develop in them a liking 



* Demme. Ueber den Einfluss des Alcohols auf den Organismus des Kindes. Stuttgart, 

 1891. 



f Mairet et Combemale. Influence degenerative de I'Aleool sur la Descendance. Compt. 

 rend., cxi, 667, 1888. 



X Morel. Traite des Degenerescences de I'Espece humaine. Paris, 1857, p. 125. 



