No. 563] EFFECT OF INTOXICATING MALE PARENT 653 



ExPEKIMENTS 



Three years ago a series of experiments were begun 

 on guinea-pigs with the hope of modifying the type of 

 embryo in mammals so as to produce definite monstros- 

 ities as one is able to do with lower vertebrates. This 

 primary object has not been fully accomplished, yet tli<> 

 experiments have demonstrated several significant points 

 and have shown that an alcoholized male guinea-pig 

 almost invariably begets a defective offspring even when 

 bred to a vigorous normal female. 



Normal, healthy animals are selected for the experi- 

 ment, and in all cases they are first tested by a normal 

 mating in order to establish their ability to produce 

 vigorous offspring. After such a test the treatment- are 

 begun. During the experiments the treated males and 

 females are mated from time to time with normal animals, 

 and in addition, control matings of normal individuals 

 are made. Some of the specimens are treated with 

 alcohol and ether. These substances were used since 

 tliey readily act upon animal cells and since I had studied 

 their effects on the development of fish embryos and 

 found them to cause rather definite and easily recog- 

 nizable defects in the central nervous system and organs 

 of special sense. 



Method and Technique 

 In the beginning of the experiments alcohol was given 

 along with the food, but the animals ate less and the 

 food did not apparently agree with them. It was then 

 administered in dilute form by a stomach tube; this 

 method disturbed digestion and seemed to upset the ani- 

 mals considerably. It is certain that alcohol given to 

 animals through the stomach deranges their digestion 

 and appetite to such an extent that the experimenter is 

 unable to determine whether the resulting effects are 

 due to the alcohol, as such, or to the general deranged 

 condition of the animal. When given in the drinking 

 water they take little or none of the water and the treat- 



