Evening star., 1941-03-29
Malta Fever Ranks
With Enemies ofU. s,
Says DR.. MohIer
Animal Industry Bureou
Chief Speaks in Kober
Foundation Lecture

DR.. John r. Mohler, chief of the
Bureau of Animal Industry, declared
last night in the Kober Foundation
lecture at Georgetown University
that the threat of serious disease
and the menace of foreign military
powers have much in common as
enemies" of this country.
One of the enemies-an a formi-
dable one-is brucellosiS, a disease
that inf1icts man and his domestic
animals" he told an audience of
doctors and scientists in CASTOR
Hall.
Brucellosis gets its name from
its discoverer, Sir David Bruce,
who first isolated the germs in a
herd of goats on the Island of
Malta in 1887. Frequently it is
called undulant or Malta fever.
The Bureau of of Animal Indus
try imported IS goats from Malta
a few years later and since then
the source of the disease has been
traced also to cattle and swine
DR.. Mohler disclosed the fact that
during experiments conducted to
bring the appalling ravages" of
brucellosis under control, II SCENT
lists and helpers of the Bureau of
Animal Industry had become in
fected seriously with the disease,
which Stimulates typhoid fever.
The one death to occur was that
of young helper who became de-
lirious and jumped from a fourth
story window" he said.
Honorarium Presented.
The certificate and $500 hon.
orarium of the foundation were pre-
sented to DR.. Mohler at exercises
by the Rev. David v. McCauley, S. j..
dean of the Georgetown University
school of medicine, in the absence
of the Very Rev. Arthur A. OLeary
president of the university, who was
ill. Present were officers and men,
bers of the Medical Society of the
District, who chose the Government
pathologist for the lectureship honor
this year.
Father McCauley paid brief
tribute to DR.. George Martin Kober
who endowed the foundation in 1928
when he was dean of medicine al
Georgetown. Last night was his
birthday anniversary.
Before the "teSt-and- slaughter
plan was put into effect in 1884 in
conjunction with the Federal pro-
gram to reduce the number of in
fected livestock in this country. DR.
Mohler said brucellosis was taking
an annual toll of s50.0O00O from
the cattle industry. The campaign
for complete control may take years
he said. but it will ultimately sue
ceed Progress has been made to
is now under control in $50 coun-
ties.
DR.. Mohler recalled that DR..
Kober and DR.. Lloyd Magruder
then dean of medicine at George
town. with DR.. Emil Berlinsr, in
ventor and philanthropist, were
among the first persons In this
country to witness the laboratory
experiments because of their interest
In milk borne diseases.
Pastuerization Cuts Toll.
Pasteurization Of milk is the
preventive measure for humans,
DR.. Mohler said, except in those
occupational groups whose work
brings them into contact with IN
fected animals.
The Government scientist said
that control measures are slow.
Mature was not to be hurried" he
explained. by assembly line methods
man has speeded up production of
automobiles and airplanes; but in
dealing with the placid COW our
anxiety for quick results is of no
avail"
Segregation of cows in maternity
stalls" and the vaccination of calves.
in general, were the approved
methods of undertaking control, DR..
Mohler explained. A vaccine is
being developed for swine but no
report can be made of 1t at the
present time.