DOI article:
Smith, Theobald: The Department of Animal Pathology of the Rockefeller Institute, Princeton, N. J.
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57254#0520
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL
PATHOLOGYOF THE ROGKEFELLER INSTITUTE
PRINCETON, N. J.
By
THEOBALD SMITH
THE importance of the diseases of domestic animals is widely recognized. In the
United States, departments devoted to their study are maintained by the federal
and the state governments. To a certain degree these departments are unavoidably
affected by immediately practical considerations, and hence the scientific study of
the diseases of animals suffers because of the trend to deal directly and at once with
endemic and epidemic outbreaks.
In establishing the Department of Animal Pathology of the Rockefeller Institute
in 1917, cognizance was taken of this fact, and the scientific staff assembled had
for its purpose the investigation of animal disease in the broadest way possible.
Practical considerations, therefore, were subordinated to increase in knowledge;
they were, however, not neglected.
The large concentration of animals in groups favors the spread of infectious and
parasitic diseases widely distributed over the globe. Fortunately, since environ-
mental factors offen play also a determining role, not all such diseases have an
equally wide distribution. Under commercial conditions, animal diseases are spread
by the traffic in animals and animal products. This is particularly true of the
endemic diseases, which official regulation can control but little. Since it is the
valuable breeds of animals which are most sought, they suffer most from the or-
dinary commercial practises.
The incidence of infectious diseases is governed by a number of considerations,
which may be compared to the links in a chain. The breaking of a single link may,
therefore, lead to suppression. This is the case with the insect borne infections. In
turn the insect vector is influenced by such interlocking links as temperature, breed-
ing grounds, destructive parasites, etc.
Experience has shown that the mechanical modes of suppressing outbreaks of
disease — quarantine, disinfection — achieve comparatively little. Increase in fun-
damental knowledge has revealed that the infections are compromises between host
and parasites, and that the infectious agent may persist in the surviving host and
become the starting point of a fresh outbreak. This carrier state, offen not re-
cognized, is the chief obstacle to the complete eradication of the disease-produc-
ing agent.
Research in animal pathology resolves itself into field and laboratory operations.
The former is chiefly observational; the latter deals with experimental tests of the
accuracy of field observations and their further analysis. Both modes of study are
essential in solving the problems of disease, for not infrequently phenomena in
nature are overlooked and hence fail to yield the skeleton key to the whole problem.
Infectious Abortion in Cattle. The investigation of infectious abortion in cattle,
which has been continued in the Department of Animal Pathology up to the present
502
PATHOLOGYOF THE ROGKEFELLER INSTITUTE
PRINCETON, N. J.
By
THEOBALD SMITH
THE importance of the diseases of domestic animals is widely recognized. In the
United States, departments devoted to their study are maintained by the federal
and the state governments. To a certain degree these departments are unavoidably
affected by immediately practical considerations, and hence the scientific study of
the diseases of animals suffers because of the trend to deal directly and at once with
endemic and epidemic outbreaks.
In establishing the Department of Animal Pathology of the Rockefeller Institute
in 1917, cognizance was taken of this fact, and the scientific staff assembled had
for its purpose the investigation of animal disease in the broadest way possible.
Practical considerations, therefore, were subordinated to increase in knowledge;
they were, however, not neglected.
The large concentration of animals in groups favors the spread of infectious and
parasitic diseases widely distributed over the globe. Fortunately, since environ-
mental factors offen play also a determining role, not all such diseases have an
equally wide distribution. Under commercial conditions, animal diseases are spread
by the traffic in animals and animal products. This is particularly true of the
endemic diseases, which official regulation can control but little. Since it is the
valuable breeds of animals which are most sought, they suffer most from the or-
dinary commercial practises.
The incidence of infectious diseases is governed by a number of considerations,
which may be compared to the links in a chain. The breaking of a single link may,
therefore, lead to suppression. This is the case with the insect borne infections. In
turn the insect vector is influenced by such interlocking links as temperature, breed-
ing grounds, destructive parasites, etc.
Experience has shown that the mechanical modes of suppressing outbreaks of
disease — quarantine, disinfection — achieve comparatively little. Increase in fun-
damental knowledge has revealed that the infections are compromises between host
and parasites, and that the infectious agent may persist in the surviving host and
become the starting point of a fresh outbreak. This carrier state, offen not re-
cognized, is the chief obstacle to the complete eradication of the disease-produc-
ing agent.
Research in animal pathology resolves itself into field and laboratory operations.
The former is chiefly observational; the latter deals with experimental tests of the
accuracy of field observations and their further analysis. Both modes of study are
essential in solving the problems of disease, for not infrequently phenomena in
nature are overlooked and hence fail to yield the skeleton key to the whole problem.
Infectious Abortion in Cattle. The investigation of infectious abortion in cattle,
which has been continued in the Department of Animal Pathology up to the present
502