Page 6 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

OND
ERSTEPOORT 100
In 1908 the laboratory at Onderstepoort (the ‘Extravagant Palace of Science’) was completed and in September 1908 the transfer of equipment from Daspoort to Onderstepoort started, a process which was completed on 8 October 1908. The staff of the new laboratory consisted of six professionals, five technicians and 12 auxiliary personnel, and its annual budget
6 was the equivalent of R17 294. The large building complex stood on a bared site in the Transvaal bushveld surrounded by indigenous grass and thorn trees.
“The staff of the new laboratory consisted of six professionals, five technicians and 12 auxiliary personnel, and its annual budget was the equivalent of R17 294.”
electric light, gas and running hot and cold water. Mallein, tuberculin, and vaccines for lungsickness and quarter evil were pro- duced in the bacteriology laboratory, and bluetongue vaccine as well as serum and virus for immunization against African horsesickness in another laboratory. Small- pox vaccine was still produced in the early years in a small building separate from the main one. The smaller top storey of the main building was designed for teaching purposes. Behind the main complex was an open quadrangle surrounded by well-
A.Theiler C.M.G. and staff of the ‘Veterinary Bacteriology Division’. Photographed in front of the Main Building in 1908
The laboratories along the long corridors to the left and right of the central entrance door were well equipped with
The famous ‘Sickline’, which gave rise to Onderstepoort’s colloquial name, consisted of research horses lined up daily for inspection by A. Theiler (centre with white apron and hat)
built stables for housing the animals used for experimental purposes. It was the lining up of animals for inspection in this quadrangle that led to the name ‘sick line’ for the Institute amongst the black workers and local black people, which is still encountered today. A bit further away stood the dog kennels, a piggery, laboratory animal facilities and an isolation stable. There were also forage stores, an incinerator, a workshop for a farrier and saddler as well as sheds for ‘buggies’, wagons and farm implements.
The official opening of the Institute had been planned for 11 January 1909 at Onderstepoort but torrential rains on 10 and 11 January damaged access roads to such an extent that it proved to be impossible to hold the event. A Pan-African Veterinary Conference timed to coincide with the opening of the Institute had been planned by Botha and both occasions were supposed to have been opened by him. He was, however, attending a meeting of the National Convention in Durban. The opening of the Conference was therefore conducted by Jakob de Villiers, the Attorney General, in the Executive Council
PART 1
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute: General History
1908-2008
Years