JULT 11, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



29 



tliis kind would naturally involve some trouble 

 from the standpoint of administration of the 

 work of the division, but I believe the fact 

 that it would give the chief of the division an 

 opportunity to become acquainted with stu- 

 dents of parasitology who might later desire 

 to enter the service and thus enable him to 

 form an opinion as to their capabilities and 

 suitability for the work would offset any in- 

 conveniences resulting from their presence in 

 the laboratory. The student himself would 

 not only profit from what knowledge of para- 

 sitology he was able to gain during his stay 

 in the laboratory, but he would also be able 

 to determine better than he might otherwise 

 whether he would care later to take a position 

 in the division. 



As to possibilities of cooperation between 

 university departments of zoology and the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry in research work 

 on problems relating to parasitic diseases it 

 would be quite feasible in some cases for the 

 bureau within certain limits to assist finan- 

 cially or otherwise in investigations likely to 

 yield results of value to the live-stock industry 

 of the coimtry. The exact nature of cooper- 

 ative arrangements which might be made in 

 any instance would depend largely upon the 

 special conditions of the individual case, and 

 nothing would be gained by discussing plans 

 of cooperation at this time. Without going 

 into details I may therefore limit myself to 

 an expression of the willingness of the bureau 

 to cooperate with university zoolgists in in- 

 vestigations in the field of parasitology in any 

 way possible. 



My remarks have been very brief but if 

 the suggestions I have offered are of any 

 value more elaborate discussion can be left 

 for other occasions, if they are not the brevity 

 of their presentation is not to be regretted. 

 In any case I am very glad to have had this 

 opportunity of speaking a word for practical 

 zoology, of expressing the belief that it de- 

 serves more attention from the zoological pro- 

 fession in this country than it has hitherto 

 received, and of pointing out certain ways by 

 which it may be possible to bring about better 



cooperation between the universities and the 

 government in zoological research. 



B. H. Eansom 

 Bureau op Animal Industry 



Dr. Eansom's paper suggests several topics 

 for discussion and is certainly opportune. 



It is probably true that the subject of para- 

 sitology has been neglected in large measure in 

 our colleges and universities but I can hardly 

 agree that it is due to lack of interesting phases 

 of the subject. 'No doubt tapeworms are less 

 attractive than birds or butterflies, but when 

 we take into account their remarkable adapta- 

 tions and the complex adjustments involved in 

 their alternations of host they offer most fas- 

 cinating points for biologic study, and to this 

 may be added their economic interest. In my 

 own experience I have usually found that stu- 

 dents resipond very promptly to discussion of 

 these aspects of parasitic biology. 



As to the dearth of workers there is some- 

 thing to be said in the matter of demand. In 

 my own experience I have often had students 

 who became interested in the subject but the 

 great majority of our university students have 

 to meet the practical problem of entering on 

 work that will bring them a living income and 

 it has usually been the case that when this 

 feature was met .the man would find more at- 

 tractive openings in teaching or research in 

 other lines. 



As to practical lines of cooperation I think 

 Dr. Ransom has miade a suggestion that is 

 practicable and quite feasible. Advanced stu- 

 dents and especially graduates working on 

 theses or dissertations might very profitably be 

 assigned for a specified time to work in the 

 bureau laboratories or for field work, perhaps 

 utilizing their summer vacations as is done in 

 geology or entomology with perhaps joint 

 supervision of bureau and university depart- 

 ment so that there may be opportunity for 

 university credits. 



Courses in parasitology have been offered in 

 a number of institutions especially in recent 

 years but I am not posted as to the extent of 

 enrollment. However, any figures for recent 

 years would be of little value as showing drift 

 to these courses. I believe some of the men 



