Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-19
Germ-Free
Animals Aid
Army Tests
BY CHARLES G. BROOKS

The perfectly germ free animal
has become a medical reality in
three laboratories of the Western
world including one at the Wal
ter Reed Army Medical Center
here.
These laboratories are full of
small tanks, pressure sealed
against contamination, where
germ-free animals are kept to
live fertile lives under perfectly
controlled conditions in their
own sterile little worlds.
The germ-free research pro-
ject at Walter Reed Army In
Stitute of Research began last
November under an Army grant
to DR.. Paul Gyorgy, professor of
nutrition in pediatrics 5at the
University Of Pennsylvania. The
Army allowed a sum of about
$500,000 for the experiment
which is still being set up.
Experimentation with germ
free animals means that tissue
reaction to foreign factors may
be observed without any of the
obsctiring factors Of bacteria,
either infectious or benign.
FIRST in 1929
In 1899 Dr.. !. A. Reyniefs
began working with this concept
and now his laboratory at Notre
Dame University is the worlds
largest. There is another in
Sweden and a fourth is currently
being built at the National IN
stitute Of Health in Bethesda.
Actually, Louis Pasteur, about
rs years ago. suggested that
germ-free aniInals be raised to
determine whether intestinal
are essential to life. It
wasn't until 1910 at Notre Dame
that it was demonstrated that
germ-free animals can grow as
well as normal animals, given
proper nutrition.
During the Korean war, the
Army became interested in in
fictitious diseases that can't be
transmitted by animals. Human
volunteers were used at first, but
this was stopped because of the
dangers involved.
Finally, it was reported that
germ-free chickens would trans
NIT some Of the viruses and this
led to the Army's grant to the
University of Pennsylvania to
set up the laboratory at Walter
Reed. 1t is under the immediate
supervision Of DR.. Martin
Forbes. a university research
associate in the department of
microbiology.
The laboratory was set UP last
and is still being
readied for future intense ex-
Fermentation. Sixteen tanks
are used completely secure
against normal or "contami-
mated" breath by the re-
searchers.
Purified Air Flows
Purified air is fed to the
animals inside. The tanks and
internal equipment are subjected
to $50 degrees heat for IS min
utes, killing every living thing
including virus. They are also
steam cleaned. Special air locks,
similar to those on submarines,
provide entrance for the germ
free animals.
Some strains Of germ-free
animals come from Notre Dame.
They reproduce in the sterile
tanks. Surgeons sometimes per-
form aseptic caesarian opera
lions by inserting their hands in
neoprene elbow-length gloves
and reaching into the tanks.
Eggs, Matched and incubated in
the tanks, will produce germ
free chicks.
The laboratory staff is praying
that this summers thunder
storms don't cut the power from
Walter Reed. The laboratory is
not connected with emergency
generators. Nearly a year ago
one was requested. An hour Of
mo power. and all Of the ex-
'pensive animals would be con-
taminated-useless for the most
part.
A number Of questions have
been posed to the laboratory
staff, which works with surgeons
and other specialists from the
Institute Of Research.
Burns Studied
The Army is interested in
burns. For example, all burns
become infected although to
greatly varying degrees. Bacteria
infects them. 1t is impossible to
see how the tissue reacts TO burns