Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 50.djvu/620

600 some cells and a food for others, it is impossible to say. While these questions remain open, it might be safe to assume, that if a food, the tissues are possibly, in conditions of health, able to produce all they need of it. If it is mainly a waste product, they should not be burdened with any more of it than necessary.

were broken in upon and complicated by accidents and disease to such an extent that we shall pass them by with a brief mention.

During April of 1895 four kittens were obtained, the two males, which we will call 1 and 2, from the same litter; the two



females, 3 and 4, from an unrelated litter. The males were born April 2d; the females, March 18th.

From April 23d to 29th they were weighed daily and studied as to health, liveliness, and general comparability. All four purred and played normally, but it was evident that 1 and 3 were considerably more vigorous and active. Both 2 and 4 had sore eyes—a rather serious indication of poor nutrition. Nevertheless, these were the most nearly comparable two pairs of kittens available at the time. Some doubts were entertained, but it was thought possible to bring 2 and 4 up to a comparable health level. Accordingly, allowing this much handicap to alcohol, it was decided to take the vigorous pair (1 and 3) for alcohol, and keep 2 and 4 for normal controls.

Alcohol, chemically pure, was now given, beginning with a dose of 1·3 gramme per kilogramme of body weight April 29th.