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Librarian: Sir Arnold, the new Faculty which you founded in 1920 produced interesting doctoral theses. The first DSc was obtained by Dr C.P. Neser in 1921 - The Blood of domestic equines. Sir Arnold: Yes, that was groundbreaking work. And then there was research done on Anthrax by Quin for a DVSc Librarian: Yes, his thesis appeared in 1928, also presented at the University of South Africa. From 1920 till 2006 the Faculty has produced 97 doctoral theses . Sir Arnold : The veterinary field is indeed a challenging but rewarding opportunity for research. I hope these research efforts are accessible for other researchers elsewhere in the world? Librarian: Yes, these theses are catalogued by their university librarians for all to see. In the previous decades copies could be borrowed, either in print form or as microfiche, but in the past few years an exciting new format has appeared, revolutionizing their use and accessibility worldwide – the electronic format. Sir Arnold : Goodness, what does that imply? Librarian: Since 2002 the theses are digitised or scanned and stored on a central server where other researchers can access them from wherever they have a computer connection to the Internet. In instances where information may be confidential they will need special passwords, or access may be denied altogether. But all the non-confidential research will be available. Sir Arnold : So no one will be duplicating research efforts as all can now see what areas are being covered? I must complement you librarians on having achieved this great step forward for research! Librarian: Thank you. I must also mention that your own thesis presented at the University of Berne, Switzerland in 1901 is also now electronically available throughout the world, as we digitised it earlier this year. Sir Arnold : Ah yes, Die Malaria des Pferdes (1).Much of that work was done while I was still a young man and newly arrived in South Africa (1897). Further work still lay ahead for me on horse diseases in Africa. I think I became quite well known for all my horse work in later years! Do you have a list of all the doctoral theses of the Faculty since 1920? Librarian: Yes I have compiled the list ( http://www.ais.up.ac.za/vet/ documents/vtheses.doc) with the help of the Librarian of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, David Swanepoel , the Archives Librarian at the University of South Africa, Annette le Roux and Antoinette Burger of the Faculty Administration. It was not easy to trace the early theses for the period 1920 – 1973 as the Faculty was first part of the University of South Africa and so some theses can only be found there. We will be digitising all the early theses to ensure that their research outputs are safely stored and are accessible to future researchers. Of course much of the early research on animal diseases of Africa first appeared in print in the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, known in your day as the Report of the Government Veterinary Bacteriologist of the Transvaal, later as Report of the Director of Veterinary Education and Research. Sir Arnold : I think it is necessary to make these early publications also electronically available – are you planning to do so? Librarian: Indeed, after a researcher in Germany requested our help in locating an early publication by you on Lamsiekte (Parabotulism) in cattle (2) we started motivating for funds to help us to digitise the first 40 volumes of the OJVR. This researcher pointed out that this early research helped them to save time and effort in their research project in Germany. No library in Germany had access to this early publication. Sir Arnold : I am glad that my research is still important and useful even outside South Africa. I hope that you will soon receive the funds to implement this essential digitisation project.
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