244 PEARL— EFFECT OF CERTAIN POISONS 



heritable variations, which appears to be the basic problem of 

 genetics. 



One may expose systematically the germ-cells of an animal to 

 something unusual or abnormal in the surrounding conditions, and 

 then analyze, so far as may be, not only the new heritable variations 

 themselves (provided any such appear), but also the factors which 

 underlie their causation. One is the more encouraged to undertake 

 experimentation in this direction, because of the very interesting 

 results of such studies which have been reported during the last few 

 years, particularly those of Stockard- and Cole,^ with mammals and 

 birds. In this connection mention should also be made of the work 

 of Sumner with mice, Kammerer with lower vertebrates. Tower 

 with insects, and MacDougal with plants. 



The problems with which this investigation deals are specifically 

 these : 



1. Does the continued administration of ethyl alcohol (or similar 

 narcotic poisons) to the domestic fowl induce precise and specific 

 changes in the germinal material, such as to lead to new, heritable, 

 somatic variations? 



2. Failing a specific effect is there a general effect upon the 

 germinal material leading to general degeneracy of the progeny? 



3. What in general are the effects upon the soma of the treated 

 individual of the continued administration of such poisons? 



4. Are the somatic effects upon the treated individuals of a sort 

 to give any clue as to the probable origin, or mechanism of the 

 germinal changes? 



The present paper reports, in brief abstract, the results obtained 

 from the beginning of the experiment in September, 1914, to Feb- 

 ruary I, 1916. A complete report is now in process of publication 

 in another place. In that report the data will be presented in detail, 

 with probable errors, etc. 



- Cf. for summary and bibliography of earlier papers Stockard, C. R., 

 and Papanicolaou, G., " A Further Analysis of the Hereditary Transmission 

 of Degeneracy and Deformities by the Descendants of Alcoholized Mam- 

 mals," Amcr. Nat., Vol. L., pp. 65-88 and 144-177, 1916. 



3 Cf. Cole, L. J., and Bachhuber, L. J., " The Effect of Lead on the Germ 

 Cells of the Male Rabbit and Fowl as Indicated by their Progeny," Proc. 

 Soc. Expcr. Biol. Med., Vol. XII., pp. 24-29, 1914. 



