Page 18 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

ONDERSTEPOORT 100
stations and also with his students, du Toit was practically in control of Onderstepoort.
When Theiler reminded his Minister that by the end of 1925 his additional year would expire and that he was ready to retire, Kemp asked him to continue for another year. He accepted, mainly to enable du
Toit to spend a long sabbatical in Europe,
which commenced in February 1926. The
latter’s intentions were to spend most of
the time at the Pathology Institute of the
University of Basle and the Parasitology
Institute of the University of Paris doing
specialized research, but also to visit most
of the veterinary centres in Europe and the
UK. 1926 also saw the return to power
of a conservative government in England
and a resumption of attempts to stimu-
late the socio-economic development of
the Commonwealth. Research Commit-
tees for various scientific disciplines and an
Empire Marketing Board were founded. An
Imperial Conference was also planned for
November 1926 in London.
from Paris to attend the meetings of the relevant scientific committee, illustrating their confidence in his capabilities. Hertzog also approved a request from the Colonial Secretary that du Toit visit Nigeria on his way home to survey and report on that country’s livestock industry.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, Theiler had completed the 11th and 12th Reports of the Director of Veterinary Research, the second of which consisted of a detailed report on all the lamsiekte work carried out over a period of almost a decade. He also re- ceived notification that he would be re- tired on his 60th birthday, i.e. 22 March 1927, according to regulations. Kemp also announced that the proposed amalgama- tion of the two veterinary divisions would take place on 1 April 1927.
Theiler did not take these decisions kindly, although he had already resigned twice, expressing his desire to return to Switzerland and had been preparing for retirement for the past two years. He had already arranged to continue his studies on the pathology of bones of animals subjected to mineral deficiencies in his home country and had collected a large amount of
material for this purpose. Apparently he had expected some arrangement in terms of an emeritus professorship or that of a guest worker. Despite some bitterness, he completed his preparations, as well as his 13th and 14th Reports, and was ready to leave for Switzerland from Cape Town on 5 March when Du Toit returned from Europe.
18
Following visits to various British insti-
tutes du Toit was invited to read a paper by
Theiler, Green and himself on the mineral
requirements of cattle at the August meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The impact of this lecture served to enhance both his status and that of his home institute. When Prime Minister General J.H.B. Hertzog and Finance Minister N.C. Havenga attended the Imperial Conference as official delegates they summoned du Toit
“Following visits to various British institutes du Toit was invited to read a paper by Theiler, Green and himself on the mineral requirements of cattle at the August meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The impact of this lecture served to enhance both his status and that of his home institute.”
IMORE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
n addition to the research topics mentioned above, articles in the 11th to 14th Reports reflect a wide range of scientific activities, such as research on trypanosomes (Robinson and Bedford), krimpsiekte (Henning), anaplasmosis in sheep (de Kock and J.Quinlan),
myiasis in animals and humans (G.A.H. Bedford), blackquarter (Viljoen and Scheuber), necrobacillosis in equines (Quinlan and Robinson), external parasites on SA mammals (Bedford), vermeersiekte (du Toit), gifblaar and tulp poisoning (Steyn), East Coast fever and heartwater (Steck), nagana (Curson), anthrax (Viljoen, Curson and P.J.J. Fourie), sterility in cows (Quinlan), pseudotuberculosis in sheep (de Kock and
Fourie), actinomycosis in bovines (de Kock and Fourie), tuberculosis and demodectic mange in goats (Fourie), bacterial icterus in sheep (Robinson), oesophagostomiasis in sheep (Veglia) and South African mosquitoes (Bedford).
PART 1
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute: General History
1908-2008
Years