Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-12-01
w. A. Trenckmann Tells of Discovery
Made by Department Of BacteriOIOgy Of
University OF Kansas - Experiments
Carried on TO Confirm Theory.
PERFECTLY WELL MONKEY SUBJECT
TO FLEA LOSES CONTROL OF LIMBS
Discoveries Are Made in Chemical Depart
ment Of University Which Are Commend
ing Respectable Market Value in the
Commercial World.

University ot Kansas. experiments are be-
ing carried on tending to confirm the
theory that \ certain flea transmits in
%fantilc paralysis. Guinea pig, were used
IN the first experiment, but notwIth~tand-
ing "A liberal allowance of suspicious tlcas
per plg. the animals remained IN excellent
health. An examination OF the biting APP
paratu~ IT the insects revealed. however,
that the same were dullcd ~ previous con
lincmcut ~ gla-, vessels. q second con
~ignment III 4 softer enclosure still failed
To lnoculate the guinea pig~. Then a mon
key wa substituted, aud IN due time he
sickcncd and died not developing. now
ever. any well marked symptoms of infan-
tile paralysis. An investigation Of this ami
mails past history revealed that he had
been lnoculated with other disease germs
bN other men ~ science. - the value Of
thi, experiment was MI. Another perfect
~ sound Monky ha~ been subjected to the
~upIrinu~ flea, and rnriou~ly enough hc l.
losing control ui hi limbs and exhibiting
marked symptoms at infantile paralysis.
The experiments are hupcly that they are
discovering the cause, and can thus pro-
vide 4 protection against the spread of
this terrible disease which has killed or
wrecked the bodies of so many happy chill
drcn.
II the chemistry department. also. dis.
%covcric~ are made. commanding "A respect
able market value IN the commercial
world. Indeed. economic chemistry has
been over stressed many think. A curious
character, Prof. Robert Kennedy Duncan,
was placed IN charge of the department
several years ago. lie secured from mil
l%ionaire manufacturer, over the country Il
number of fcllowships for research work
IN industrial chemistry. hoping 10 remove
obstacles 10 important manufacturing pro-
cc~~c>. For instance. Prof. Duncan found
that manufacturers experienced much diff
iicuity IN putting ont a varniSh that would
not melt or crack in the warmer parts of
the sales territory. The owner Of 4 var
ni~h making concern was induced 10 cndow
q fellowship IN the University Of Kansas
Tor studying this problem. Finally{ n very
tough vami>h was secured that Would melt
easily. but would harden quncklv ami could
not BE- scratched; that would not decay
and. with certain ~adnixturc, proved a
valuable. i~nde~tructihle and fircproof paint
for stone buildings. Out ~ 4 mixture Of
fine ~awdu~t and varnl~h that proved work
able IN the lathe. beautiful golIet~ were
made hat could ~ hurled On the floor
without breaking. and the same substance
proved well adapted for clecn1ral in~ula-
lion. When patents were applied for. how
ever. q was found that someone IN Russia
had patented varni~h made ~ this prurr~~
above q certain melting point. another III
some other country above another melting
point. and the American inventor could pa
I tent only the gap between prc-empetions.
Experiments along another line has de-
vclopcd y perfectly practicable method u
making godai soap ont of petroleum. An
other discovery lessons the damage Ia
clothc- incident "a laundrying them.
Patent unii~ in the vami~h matter are
pending. hni university men generally have
concluded that this i III the wrong direc-
ton; and since Prof. Duncan'S death. the
department l. not carrying or experiments
tor individuals or corporations. but for the
state and people a. q whole. and no dis
coNcrv D. patented or otherwise used for
private gam. The discovery making pos
~ihle the puritication of yeast. and the
consequent Improvement IT dread. H. not
patented.
COMPULSORY education i ia full force in
Kansas. Fifty thousand dollars annually
l. given by the state 80 certain qualified
high schools a. 4 subsidy for approved
pedagogy courses. and a. 4 result. il seems
certain that IN a few wears there viii be no
excuse for placing ,clildrcn 1T the least
Inpulou~ communities. even. Sndcr the IN
+. ~truciian of tcacher~ who have little knowl-
cdgc themselves and who have had M
+ training whatever IN impartmg their scant
store to others.
The condition of the rural schools NJ
Kansas m 1911 was even worse than IN
Texas ~ the same time. Kansas met the
; emergency with the Barnes law. and many
states have followed suit hy copying the
same Onto their own statute books. Texas
+ must zee IL II that her country schools arc
no longer neglected in - ~seandalous n
manner a. AZ present.
Editors Note-lIaving completed the r..
view Of the activities of the University Of
: Kansas. Mr.. Trcnckmann'S article nexi
r week will treat Of the Agricultural Col
lege Of Kansas.