ANIMAL DISEASES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1941, Page 11

ANIMAL DISEASES

NEW LABORATORY

VALUABLE RESEARCH

[ Equipped to facilitate further investigations by the Department of Agriculture into animal diseases, the new Animal Research Laboratory at Wallaceville is to be officially opened tomorrow afternoon by the Prime Minister. Research work will be carried on in the new laboratory, the old buildings being used for diagnostic work. The building, which is of two storeys, has a flat roof, on which are constructed two staff rooms. The ground floor has a kitchen suite for the preparation of media and the sterilisation of glassware, hot and cold rooms, a large post-mortem chamber, offices, and several laboratory rooms. The main space on the second floor is devoted to nutritional work iri its relation to disease of stock. Here, experimental rat colonies are kept, and accommodation is provided for a staff bf chemists, who work on various phases of disease problems. An up-to-date photographic studio is a feature of the floor, as photographic records are kept of animals used in experiments. There is also a small library to hold the more valuable journals and text books. The research station, which has c staff of about 50, is under the controb of Dr. J. F. Filmer, acting director o: the Animal Research Division, Department of Agriculture. It is dividec into three main sections —pathological diagnostic, and nutritional. The pathological side is directed by Dr. C. S M. Hopkirk, D.V.Sc, who is alsc officer -in-charge, and investigates specific animal diseases unconnected with nutrition, such as mastitis, contagious abortion, and pulpy kidney Specimens sent in from all parts oi New Zealand from meat works veterinarians, and farmers themselves are dealt with by the diagnostic section, which is controlled by Mr. L. W N. Fitch, B.V.Sc. The nutritional section, which is directed by Dr. I. J Cunningham, Ph.D., M.Sc, B.V.Sc. carries out work connected with nutrition and disease. A service laboratory which is in charge of Dr. G. M. Moir, Ph.D., M.Sc, is also maintained al Wallaceville.