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» I ■ *■ y " I Dr. Mams NASRC Address Dr. Mark Attain, dean of the Veterinary School of the University of Pennsylvania, addressed yesterdays NASRC Convention on "The Importance of Research in Veterinary Medicine." For centuries animals have been reproducing in order that people maV be supplied with certain necessities and pleasures of life. With the increases noted in human population a more acute responsibility Exists for comparable increase in animal production both for the purpose of food and pleasure. If we are to keep pace with the responsibilities that I am certain are rightly outs, the veterinary profession and the breeders of livestock must examine our research endeavors with a more critical eye. Of the three types of research: namely, basic, applied and developmental, it is impossible to emphasize too strongly the importance of basic research in any field of scientific endeavor. By basic research we mean those investigations which are motivated entirely by a desire to jncrease knowledge rather than for a solution of a practical problem or the development of new commercial products. Applied, and developmental research have progressed only as a result of advancement in more basic information. It is doubtful if any practical problem can be brought to fruition today without the use of facts obtained through .basic research. There are many examples in all branches of science where fundamental discoveries have led to entirely unexpected and un-predicted practical applications. There are numerous instances of this in veterinary medicine. Let us mention only a few. Problem of Adrenal Cortex Previous to 1930, little was known concerning the action of the adrenal cortex. About this time, several groups of investigators attacked this problem. Theirlirst goal was to develop an extract of the gland which would maintain -life in animals from which the adrenals had been removed. This „was soon accomplished and was shortly followed by, the separation of several biologically-active compounds from the extract. The next steps were to determine the chemistry of these compounds and estab-lishthe functions of each in the body. " During these developments, other workers were making similar studies on the pituitary gland, and it was not long before it was recognized that these two glands were interrelated. That is, .one seemed to have an effect on the other. We know now that one of the hormones of the pituitary gland stimulates the adrenal cortex to greater activity. These results so briefly outlined above required at least twenty years of time and the efforts of many leading physiologists and biochemists. Throughout all these developments, little if any thought was given on the part of the investigators to any practical application of this new-found knowledge. Yet today, everyone is familiar with the use of cortisone — one of the adrenal hormones — in the treatment of joint disease, which in many instances has been successfully applied to the equine species. Research, in Field of Nutrition Over the years, extensive research has been conducted in the field of nutrition, most of which has been done "by workers interested in the fundamentals of the science and not in its practical application. Much of this work has been done on laboratory animals; such as the rat. In fact, the original investigations, which led to the discovery of several of the members of the vitamin B group, were not done on animals at all, but on micro-organisms by those researchers interested in the nutrition of bacteria. Later, these findings were applied to the nutrition of animals in a relatively limited way. In the performance of muscular activity, is by its very nature a difficult procedure regardless of the species being studied. Even though we recognize these facts, it is becoming increasingly importan that the thoroughbred owner and the veterinary profession recognize that they must meet this challenge so as to develop a sound, basic study program. To most of us applied research or the study of a specific disease problem in the field is more easily understood and so consequently has received more of our attention. Even here we are constantly drawing on certain basic facts in an attempt to more clearly understand certain disease conditions of horses which have a very definite clinical pattern in the field. Every thoroughbred owner has general knowledge of equine infectious anemia and with all of the investigation that have been carried on in relation to this disease, we must admit that we are without a good diagnostic tool. This is unfortunate inasmuch as we are dealing with a disease that could seemingly overnight eliminate a stable of fine horses. A monograph dealing with this disease will be released in August of this year from research done at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterin- SIDNEY JACOBS — Owner-trainer of Right Down, winner of the Tremont at the Aqueduct course. son Foundation. This report will not give us the answers that we would like to have, but will probably stimulate our thinking. For years, the problem of periodic op-thalmia or moon blindness in horses has been with us and usually appearing at the most inopportune time. Through many extensive research programs directed toward gaining greater knowledge about this disease condition, we have probably placed over reliance on the use of riboflavin as a preventive and therapeutic agent. More recently, some investigators have found leptospira positive serological reactions present in cases of periodic ophthalmia and so now we ask the question, "What is the relationship between leptospirosis and periodic ophthalmia?" This condition is of such importance and interest to Dr. Charles Baker of the clinical staff of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, that he is now attempting to establish the relationship between these two conditions. I am sure that I recognize concern on the part of the thoroughbred breeder and the apparent lack of information on tendon and bone diseases of horses. Recently, there seems to be an increased interest in attempting certain studies so that we might have a better understanding of these conditions with most species of animals. We have been entirely too content to accept statements of a general nature with the hope that the principle would apply to the particular species of our interest. This is particularly true of the equine species. The horse in the United States is increasing in number, yet very little is known of how his body functions in health or disease. Increased knowledge of the horse is essential if we are to improve the methods of diagnosis, treament, and general study of equine diseases. Inasmuch as we are discussing the importance of basic i research, let us ask ourselves A what are j the effects of diet and management on growth, bone development and blood chemistry of the growing horse, or B what is the physiology and biochemistry of the race horse when running. Environmental Factors A study of environmental factors which influence the ability of the thoroughbred to run fast necessitates an extensive outlay of facilities and a considerable period of time. Not only does one horse require far more space and attention than one laboratory rat, but knowledge of the biology of the horse is so scanty that the study would require many experiments designed to apply this missing information. The problem of appraising the factor which influence of how to prevent rather than radically treat conditions, involve these important structures. Still another field of great importance and in need of further applied investigation are the surgical diseases involving the abdomen of the horse. It has been only in the past few years that the veterinary surgeon has dared to trespass within the abdominal cavity in order to surgically correct certain disease conditions. Surgery of this nature is made possible by the availability of present day antibiotics, the veterinary surgeons willingness to attempt such operations and the cooperativeness of the owner and trainer. Several rpnnrts smeared in lltera- ture recently describing successful surgery involving the intestinal tract, thus saving the life of valuable animals. This same type of program has been completed by the author in the veterinary hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, two cases involving the newborn foal in which there was a retained meconium. Successful surgery then can be completed in the equine species where surgical abdominal disease does exist. It will require many more cases, however, before the individual surgeon and owner will have complete confidence in such a program. „ The responsibility for research in behalf of the equine species is not the responsibility of any one person nor any one group of persons, but that of all those who are .interested and the breeder, veterinary pro-| fession must band together their efforts.
