Figure 32. — N. A. Cobb, nematologist of the U.S. Department of 

 Agriciilture and summer investigator at Woods Hole 

 Laboratory. 



and parasitism. A scientific discussion with Cobb revealed 

 his broad philosophical approach to science. Nemas to him were 

 not the goal but only the means and tools for seeking solutions 

 to broad scientific problems. 



Every summer toward the end of June the arrival of 

 Cobb at Woods Hole was preceded by the appearance of two men 

 from the Department of Agriculture, one of them a carpenter, 

 the other a mechanic. Their duty was to set up equipment con- 

 sisting of specially constructed rotating tables divided into sev- 

 eral sectors for microscopes with lamps, and open compartments 

 for notebooks and pencils. An elaborate system of black curtains 

 having certain parts that opened and closed by pulling a rope, 

 placed within easy reach of the microscopist, was set in a corner 

 of the room. This section of the room was reinforced with paired 

 steel girders driven through the first floor and foundation of the 

 laboratory and into the ground. Vibrations of the building caused 



76 



