Monkey Glands

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6857, 12 March 1929, Page 4

Monkey Glands

EFFECT ON THOROUGHBREDS

Is it possible to improve the breed or form of our racehorses by the glandgrafting process? The man in the street is inclined to scoff at the suggestion, but science is advancing with such rapidity that it might be unwise to disregard the theories which Dr. Voronoff is now advancing. During the past few months I have talked on this subject with a number of the highest veterinary authorities in this country, writes the well-known sporting critic, "Touchstone.” I cannot say I have found very much enthusiasm among them as to the prospects of the success of gland-grafting when applied to thoroughbred horses. At the same time, a number of them have made certain experiments in this direction, and they do not go so far as to say that there is nothing in the claims put forward by Dr. Voronoff and others who believe in his line of treatment.

Voronoff’s Theories During the summer this subject came into prominence owing to the success which Dr. Voronoff claimed to have accomplished with the French jumper, Don Zuniga. This horse, who was then four years old, won the biggest prize of the French hurdle race season at Auteuil after having undergone the glarid operation as a yearling. In spite of the French scientist’s claim, I have met nobody here who agrees that the victory of this horse over hurdles can fairly be reckoned as a conclusive triumph for grafting. The opinion is expressed that Don Zuniga might have been just as successful on the racecourse had he not been subjected to the treatment three years before.

The Case Of Rabelais One of the latest examples of an attempt to rejuvenate a thoroughbred' horse was that connected with the stallion Rabelais. This' horse was 28 years old, and, as may be supposed, was no longer of any practical the stud. He had had a remarkable career in France, having sired a great number of winners, including Durbar 11., who was sent hero to win the Derby of 1914.

Rabelais was bred in this country, being a son of the greatest sire of modern times, St. Simon. He was a successful racehorse, the Goodwood Cup being among the prizes which fell to him. At the close of his long and honourable career at the French stud, his owner agreed that he should be made the subject of an experiment by Dr. Voronoff. The operation was duly carried out a month or two ago, but nobody can say whether it would have been successful or not, because when Rabelais returned to his home quarters he was reported to have contracted a chill, with the result that he died. Officially, it was announced that he had succumbed to pneumonia. Regrettable Incident

Most of us will place our own construction upon what happened in the case of this horse, and I am sure the consensus of opinion will be that it was deplorable a thoroughbred of his brilliant record should have been sacrificed in his declining days to the interests of science. Perhaps a contrary view will be held by many scientists and veterinarians, but one cannot help feeling that too great a sentimental interest attached to Rabelais for him to be subjected to the ether and the knife at his advanced age. There is no doubt the value of Dr. Voronoff’s theories has yet to be convincingly established. Negative Results In England Some time ago he conducted his experiments on rather a large scale with sheep in Algeria. British scientists were invited to inspect the results of his experiments. All the reports they have Issued on the subject have been extremely guarded, and it is clear they are by no means certain that Dr. Voronoff has gained any striking successes so far. I believe the operation has been attempted in this country on a few occasions. A well-known veterinary surgeon informs me that he grafted a mature horse two or three years ago and the animal won several races subsequent to the operation. It is uncertain, however, whether the gland-graft-ing was actually responsible for his success, and the veterinary surgeon in question does not go so far as to claim that he won races because of the operation. In the case of a few brood mares in this country, experiments on these lines have already been practised. Success is claimed for treatment In the case of one mare, but most of the other instances appear to have had negligible results.

Question For Jockey Club When this subject first came into prominence I took rather a strong line. I pointed out that the jockey club would have to consider seriously their position if gland-grafting became more frequent in England. I urged that it opened out a wide question as to the purity of the thoroughbred horse. Racing authorities have to keep In mind the sanctity of the General Stud Book, and it struck me that no mare who had been subjected to the grafting operation should be admitted to the pages of that volume. The subject is rather a technical one, but I think readers will realise that gland-grafting might easily result in the contamination of our bloodstock. I am glad, therefore, to observe that the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association went into the matter at their annual meeting at Newmarket last month. They took much the same view as that which I have already expressed, and after an interesting debate the following resolution was carried: “That this association recommends that the subsequent oflispring of any stallion or mare submitted to the operation of gland-grafting should be ineligible for the Stud Boole.” The matter is one of considerable im-

A Pertinent Question WHAT effect would the rejuvenation of racehorses, under Dr. Voronoff’s system, have upon the acknowledged sanctity of the Stud Book, is the pertinent query put forward by an English authority in the’ following article- a question that is not without its own interest in this Dominion, which imports many thoroughbreds every year.

portanco so far as racing and breeding are concerned, and I do not think we shall hear of any more operations of this sort among our highlyrbred stock after the strong opinions expressed at the meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Sunlight Treatment There is another way in which science has lately been endeavouring to improve the form of thoroughbred

horses. This is a much more legitimate and reasonable method than the gland-grafting treatment, and is one which is securing more popularity every year.

I refer to the artificial sunlight treatment. This is being recognised as so efficacious in the case of thoroughbred horses that the time may arrive when no important training stable will be without the necessary facilities for the application of. the sun-ray. One of the first innovations which the present owners of the Manton stable introduced on taking over the property from Mr. Alec Taylor was the 'installation of the artificial sunlight apparatus. -

Scuttle Benefits A number of famous horses can.be mentioned who have apparently derived, benefit from this treatment. One of them is Scuttle, who gave some amount of trouble early last year because she apparently was deriving no nutriment from her rations. Although she was always a good feeder, she looked poor in condition. In fact, in the phraseology of the stable, she was not doing well. It was decided, therefore, to send her to one of the leading Newmarket veterinary surgeons, and he applied the sunlight treatment to her. In the case of this filly it proved most successful.

In a few weeks Scuttle began to thrive as she had not done for several months previously, and her trainer was delighted with the effects of the experiment. Jt may be that she would never have won the One Thousand Guineas had she not been through a course of the sun-rays. At all events, no filly could have looked better than she did on the day she carried the Royal colours to'a memorable victory in the Newmarket classic event. . One of the best-known veterinary surgeons in the country, Mr. Frank Cundell, is a great believer in the efficacy of the artificial sunlight treatment What is more, he can point to some remarkable result's as being due to it. Take the case, for example, of that good sprinter Oak Ridge.

Mr. Cundell’s Success He appeared to have lost all form at the end of his three-year-old career, and was weeded out of the Stockbridge stable as being not good enough to remain in that high-class establishment Mr. Cundell whs able to buy him for a comparatively trifling sum—Bogns—and put him under a course of sun-rays. The effect on Oak Ridge can be said to have been almost magical. During the past season he proved himself one of the best and most consistent performers over short distances. He was seen out in 14 races, won four of them, and was second on four other occasions. His last outing was in the Flying Handicap at Manchester, where he failed by only half a length to concede no less than 281 b to Grandmaster. In fact, he was a better racehorse last year than ever he had been before, and Mr. Cundell attributes this advancement mainly to the artificial rays. Knight of the Wilderness

Another striking example of the success of this treatment may be quoted in the steeplechaser Knight of the Wilderness, who also belongs to Mr. Cundell. There was a time when Knight of the Wilderness was regarded as one of the best 'chasers in training, and the American sportsman, Mr. W. F. Draper, gave a huge sum for him. To the dismay of his trainer, Mr. Percy Whitaker, the horse went all to pieces, and, far from realising the hope of the stable that he would win a Grand National, they despaired of picking up any sort of prize with him. In the end he was sold to Mr. Cundell for only 260gns. The sunlight treatment was applied, and we have seen the after-effects during the present National Hunt campaign. Knight of the Wilderness is immeasurably improved In appearance, and his form has developed to such an extent that he has won good steeplechases at Newbury and Kempton Park. Should he go on to win the Grand National It will be the greatest triumph which the artificial sunlight treatment has ever enjoyed.