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Show In radiobiology dept.- a bark without a bite mal can encounter without developing de-veloping any undesirable effects. Future Applicability The doctor also stressed that as materials such as plutonium, which contains radiation, come into use more in the future, it will be advantageous to know what the dangers of radiation are and how much radiation can be tolerated tolera-ted before serious physical consequences con-sequences can be expected. The Radiobiology experiments are financed mainly by the Atomic Ato-mic Energy Commission, under whose direction much equipment using radiation-containing materials is produced. DENISE ADAMS Chronicle Staff Dogs should be heard and not seen. Visitors to the University Medical Medi-cal Center may believe such an idea is being enforced there. Especially when they hear dogs yapping in several buildings clearly clear-ly marked "No Admittance" or "Authorized Personnel Only". The animals aren't hidden because be-cause of legal discrepancies in their acquisition but rather, they remain undercover for health reasons. rea-sons. The radiobiology department's depart-ment's colony of 550 beagles needs ne-eds to be kept as free from disease as possible. Because visitors often bring in disease, few people are allowed to see the kennels. Special Precautions Taken Dr. Glenn N. Taylor, radio-biology radio-biology department experimenter, explained that the dogs are used to test the effects of radiation, and a disease might make results of a test invalid. Therefore, dogs are immunized against disease and extra precautions are taken against exposure to germs. Even Dental check-ups every six months mon-ths and periodic complete physicals physi-cals be one of several vets on the staff are also part of the regular care. Of 550 dogs in the colony, only part have been injected with radiation. radi-ation. The others are used as control animals, treated exactly the same as the other dogs. The control animals enable doctors to compare differences in life span, skeletal growth, and causes of death. Lifelong Record Such comparisons require that a complete record of each beagle be dept for its entire life. Because the dogs are so well- cared for, the dogs may live much longer than household pets and the studies must be carried on for many years, explained Dr. Taylor. The colony is 20 years old and many of the dogs have been there almost that long. The project will have to continue for quite a few more years to complete studies on dogs presently in the kennels. So far, studies have shown that high doses of radiation cause bone cancer, skeletal deterioration, blood changes and alterations of soft tissues. Dr. Taylor stressed that the study will discover the highest level of radiation an ani- animal caretakers wear special clothing so they will not contaminate contami-nate the dogs. The dogs, Dr. Taylor said, are bred and raised in the radio-biology radio-biology kennels, isolated from the outside world. Though they lack the love and care provided by being a family pet, the experimental experi-mental beagles receive affectionate affectio-nate care from specially trained caretakers, most of whom have worked with the colony for several sev-eral years. Little Danger Caretakers have little chance of exposure to radiation because the beagles are treated with internal radiation. Internal radiation is not dangerous to handlers if animals are handled with reasonable care, assured Dr. Taylor. Living a dog's life in the experimental experi-mental kennels is not bad at all, the doctor stated. Extra effort is taken to provide a comfortable environnment for the dogs. Each dog is free to go inside or out of his room at any time. There are swinging doors between each dog's room and an individual outdoor out-door run. One, two, or three dogs may be housed in one room. Heated Floors All floors are heated, even those of the outside runs, so the dogs will not have to walk on cold floors. Animals are kept on a careful diet which provides all important nutrients. Handlers feed and groom each dog daily, which allows for indi-. indi-. vidual attention and affection. |
