INTERESTING OPERATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3378, 13 June 1927, Page 5

INTERESTING OPERATION.

(From our Becks Correspondent), Friday, 10th June, may prove a historical day in this district. Dr H. F. Bickerill of Otago University, who lias made a name for himself as an expert in grafting human tissues, made his second application of the Voronolf treatment to sheep at Mr T. H. Mce’s farm. With his able assistants, Dr Bickerill came along from his first operation at Lovells Flat just the day before, and found a very interested audience gathered in Mr Mce’s woolshed. The purpose and various stages of the operation were fully explained by Dr Bickerill, and no body of medical students could have hung with such intense interest on each movement of the surgeon’s knife and various instruments as did these farmers round the avool table. The moment Avas big , with possibilities for them, and perhaps for the whole dominion, The animals ■ treated were Romneys. The first tAvo Avere rams with no great difference in ,ages. One a year and nine months and ithc other just nine months—the younger transferring his glands to the older. Careful evamination of frame and avool had been taken by Mr Mec and the results of the experiment will be watched with great |intcrost. The other ram treated was an old purebred Romney imported from Mr Allen, North Island some seven years ago. He had the glands of an 18 months old quarter bred ram transferred to him, and this Avill Ibe the supreme test of Vorouof principle as applied to sheep. The results on the aged ram and his progeny will be watched Avith the keenest interest during the next few years. Under the influence of the anaesthetic the animals ■ scarcely moved a muscle, and gave no fsign of feeling pain. It Avas a AvouderIful achievement as far as that Avas conRcerned. Much has been done for our |Jlocks by careful selection in the past |to increase the staple and Avcight of livool, but here Ave are, as it were, holdling our breaths and watching on the | verge of what may prove the biggest {jump of all. If it does so prove New [Zealand Avill have much to thank (lie {[Agricultural Dept, and 1 lie Farmers ? Union who have combined to initiate (this movement under the guidance of 'Dr Bickerill and his helpers. Good jpek to them in their work i