MODIPrcATlON OF THE GERM-CELLS IN MAMMALS 131 



general system of birds and several mammals by this method. 

 Pearl ('16 b) definitely recognizes the fact that alcohol is readily 

 taken into the system by the inhalation method, but makes the 

 following statement regarding the effect : ' ' It is true that it is prac- 

 tically impossible to induce by the inhalation method in animals 

 habituated to alcohol that state of muscular incoordination which 

 is usually, but by no means always, the most striking objective 

 symptom of the condition of being drunk." Our observations 

 on guinea-pigs show them to respond very differently in this re- 

 spect from the fowls used b}^ Pearl. In the case of guinea-pigs 

 habituated to alcohol, it is very easy by the inhalation method 

 to induce a state of muscular incoordination due to the drunken 

 state and finally a complete anaesthesia, the muscles being en- 

 tirely relaxed and the animal unable to move. It may be that 

 fowls are peculiar in their reaction to alcohol and it may also be 

 extremely difficult to administer to them a highly effective dose 

 without fatal results. Such an idea is suggested by the fact that 

 Pearl does not get the gross symptoms of intoxication by leav- 

 ing his fowls in the tanks for one hour, yet they ' accumulate a 

 fatally toxic dose of alcohol by staying in the same tank under 

 the same conditions for from twenty minutes to half an horn- 

 longer. " Guinea-pigs do not at all react in this manner after 

 an hour or two in the tank they may show signs of intoxication 

 by becoming groggy, with their muscles generally relaxed so that 

 when lifted their bodies are almost entirely limp. Yet they 

 have not consumed anything near the fatal dose, since they may 

 , remain in the same tank under the same conditions for even two 

 or three hours longer before becoming completely intoxicated 

 so as to be unable to move; and in order to inhale a fatal dose 

 they must remain still longer, at least six or seven hours 



We have treated only one fowl, a white leghorn cock, in our 

 tanks. This bird responded much as the guinea-pigs do show- 

 ing decided muscular incoordination, staggering and frequently 

 almost falling as it walked. He was also able to withstand a 

 long treatment and never, though treated several times, did he 

 show any tendency to suddenly accumulate a fatally toxic dose 

 as Pearl found his fowls to do. 



