Page 9 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

of all animal refuse, thus also coming amazingly close to the truth.
The Vryburg Farmers Association and particularly its Secretary, Charles Butler, who was also editor and owner of the local newspaper, Northern News, kept the lamsiekte pot boiling not only by quoting death rates of 8 000 bovines in the Cape Colony in 1909 and many more in 1910 but also by writing innumerable reports concerning the disease in his paper. He also wrote to Theiler and even visited him at Onderstepoort several times. Lamsiekte was vehemently discussed in Parliament on several occasions, discomforting the Prime Minister, Louis Botha.
The farm Armoedsvlakte (‘Poverty Flats’), close to Vryburg, which was uninhabit- able for cattle because of the occurrence of lamsiekte, was offered in 1911 by the McKee brothers to Theiler free of charge for 1 year as an experimental station. This farm, which was subsequently purchased in 1916 by the government as an experimental station on which to study lamsiekte, played an important role in the elucidation of the lamsiekte riddle. The local farmers created a ‘Lamziekte Fund’ which was used to build infrastructure, fence camps, and drill for water and even to purchase cattle on a compensation basis. About one-third of the cattle required for experimental purposes were offered free of charge. Initially supposed
ONDERSTEPOORT 100
intoxication by plants, as surmised by Theiler, received most attention. Theiler was ably assisted by the botanist J. Burt-Davy, but lamsiekte’s nature remained a complete mystery despite all the toxicological and bacteriological investigations. As the disease at Armoedsvlakte seemed to be confined to grassveld, Theiler thought its cause must be an intoxication by a plant, several plants, or grass. The newly developed north-western districts of the Cape Colony were being threatened by ruin, according to Theiler.
Theiler left for England en route to Swit- zerland on a year’s study leave in Septem-
ber 1912, having focused the attention of
his entire senior staff, consisting of James Walker, D.T. Mitchell, D. Kehoe and Burt-
Davy on lamsiekte research during the year.
They produced copious scientific results towards the finalization of Theiler’s Second Report of the Director of Veterinary Research (1912) – which was late in preparation and publication and for these reasons drew
some criticisms in Parliament – but did not
come up with any solutions. Theiler studied
at Basle University in helminthology, patho-
logy and physiology, and brushed up on
his botany. He also conducted research on parasitological and pathological material
that he had taken with him. On his way back
to South Africa he contracted the services of
the biochemist H.H. (Harry) Green and met
up with P.J. du Toit when his ship docked in 9 Cape Town, convincing him to study veteri-
nary science in Berlin. Considerable building activity had commenced at Onderstepoort prior to Theiler’s departure on study leave. The administration block, which later mainly housed the Toxicology Section was, for example, erected in 1912.
So impressed was Butler, the editor of Vryburg’s Northern News, with the immi- nent new arrivals, that he specifically hailed the visit, on contract, of E. Hedinger, an eminent medical pathologist from Swit- zerland, and the appointment of Green. On landing in Cape Town, Green first proceeded to Vryburg so that Kehoe could introduce him to Armoedsvlakte and the research programme being conducted there before leaving for Onderstepoort to initiate his biochemical studies. These were not only related to lamsiekte but included sulphur and arsenical dips. He also studied the
chemical composition of the Armoedsvlakte
A. Theiler and senior staff at Onderstepoort in 1913 with Theiler and W. Robertson in front; standing f.l.t.r.: F. Veglia, D. Kehoe, G.A.H. Bedford and two unidentified persons
Early days (1908-1927)
1908-2008
Years