Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-09
Distemper Vaccine
For CANNES Is Near
70 the Editor of The Star:

70 the Editor Of The Star:
Dogdom is about on the threshold OF
relief from its age-long scourge of dis
temper; and the news comes simultane-
ously, as 1t happens, with the announce
ment of the death of President Hoover'S
beautiful Irish wolfhound, the lovable
puppy, Pat. from that dread disease at
Walter Reed Hospital in Washington.
According to announcement today by
Charles H. Tyler of Boston, secretary
treasurer of the American distemper
committee. the Lederle Antitoxin Lab
oratorieS at Pearl River, New York. to
which institution was intrusted the
delicate task of translating the British
experiments to discover O preventive
for distemper into q system of prac-
teal relief. report that they have been
"7o1king on the product ever since the
return Of DR.. Adolph Eichhorn from
England. and In very short time,
probably two or three weeks, will be
able to offer virus and vaccine for sale,
so that purchasers can have the COM
plete Laidlaw ami Dunkin treatment
at hand in this country.
Medical scientists interested in the
prevention OF distemper agree that such
contamination represents the most
advanced step for the protection of dog
life and health yet undertaken. The
and will not be distributed a. such.
The British researches have demon
strated, however, that it is a depend
able preventive, and that dogs inocu-
lated with the new product have proved
almost 100 per cent immune. DiStemper
attacks young rather than older dogs,
as rule, and with the new product
in common usc as eventually it prom
iscs to be, 1t will be possible for dog
owners so to immunize their pets as
practically to remove any fear of an
the saving of life or health for about
one-half the dogs that come into the
world.
With the Lederle Laboratories already
producing, the further announcement
is made that the milford Laboratories
OF Philadelphia have sent DR.. H. K.
Wright, representing their concern and
also the American Veterinary Medical
Association, to England to obtain all
the information so generously supplied
to DR.. Eichhorn by the British scientists
upon his recent trip which led to the
activities Of the Lederle Laboratories.
DR.. Wright has been supplied with suit
able credentials by the American COM
mittee and his establishment hopes In
due time to master the technique and
produce the prophylactic.
But even these gratifying develop
ments do not exhaust the glad tidinRs
FOR the dogs. Mr.. Tyler announces also
that the will Of the late Mrs. Grace
Veilie Harris of Altadena. Calf, be-
queathS to the American distenper
committee one-twelfth of her residuary
estate. and In letter from Theodore
Martin OF Los Angeles, executor of the
Will. 1t Is stated that while the exact
amount TO be realized cannot be figured
cut yet, 1t will amount to at least $50
600. This amount, however, will not
be available for a year, more or less,
and meantime the need of funds to
continue the work of discovery. produc-
ton and distribution will continue
acute. It has been decided bv the
American distemper committee to re-
quest the English committee, of which
Mr.. lyle: an Mr.. Hobart Ames are
members, as, wei as members of the
American committee. to go on with the
work until 1880, and all the money pro-
curable will be needed through this
period
1t Is the hope CT Messrs. Tyler and
Ames that now that the experiments
have emerged from the vague realm of
research into the field of practical ac-
ccmplishment, American dog lovers viii
come quickly to their support, for every
dollar received helps to hasten the day,
already In sight. when deg distemper.
IKE yellow fever in Cuba, will be a
thing OF the past. The American COM
nittee may be addressed at the Anes
Building, Boston, Mass.
C. H. TYLER,