MODIFICATION OF THE GERM-CELLS IN MAMMALS 133 



tioii and thus to cause very injurious results. The inhalation 

 method is accompanied by no such complications. 



We have now considerable data bearing on this problem and 

 are conducting an experiment to determine the quality of the 

 effects on the animal body and the progeny produced when 

 dilute alcohol is taken into the stomach of guinea-pigs for long 

 periods of time. The results of this study are to be compared 

 with the data from the fume-treated animals. 



b. The vigorous condition of the animal after daihj inhalation of 

 alcohol for long periods 



A number of the guinea-pigs have now been treated with alco- 

 hol fumes almost to a state of intoxication six days per week for 

 from five to six years. Few guinea-pigs in captivity live so long 

 a time. There were two males treated for over six years, one of 

 which lived to be more than seven years old. 80 far as we know, 

 this is the longest life reported for a guinea-pig. The treat- 

 ment Avas continued A\'ith these very old animals but they were 

 not used for breeding. In no case when the treatment was be- 

 gun on an animal over three months old could any injurious 

 effects on its general welfare or length of life be discovered. We 

 have called attention to these facts in our previous publications. 



There are certain direct injuries resulting from the inhalation 

 of ethyl-alcohol fumes during the early stages of the treatment. 

 The mucosa of the respiratory tract is considerably irritated 

 during the first few months and secretes freely while the ani- 

 mals are in the tanks, causing a watery flow from the nostrils 

 and mouth. The membranes become more resistant as the 

 treatment goes on and later little effect can be noticed. This 

 irritation has ne\'er given rise to any noticeable inconvenience 

 to the animals. The surface of the eye is also greatly irritated 

 during the first few months, causing an abundant secretion from 

 the lachrymal glands while in the fume tanks, and finally re- 

 sulting in many instances in an opacity of the cornea. In some 

 cases this opacity disappears after a few weeks and the animal 

 is again able to see, yet some of the animals treated for several 

 years have remained entirely blind, 



