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Originally printed in March 8, 1951
If this female moose could know that she is advancing the cause of science, she’d undoubtedly be very happy. Actually, she doesn’t care, because she’s dead. Performing the autopsy is Dr. J Franklin Witter, professor of animal pathology.
“This the Falmouth moose?” asked one of the students, staring at the quarter ton of dead wildlife on the floor of the animal pathology autopsy room.
“This is it,” said Dr. Witter, professor of animal pathology, washing the red from his hands. He handed several small circular plastic containers to the technician. “For the cultures,” he told her.
“Right now,” he explained to the student, “I’m making some studies of the brain which may or may not give us a lead on the cause of death. I have finished a cursory examination of the blood, and nothing’s turned up. But I’ve autopsied a good many of them without discovering any trace at all of the cause.
The moose – it’s a cow, about two years old – turned up at a farmhouse in Falmouth early this month. They usually come to civilization when they get sick. It was decided to take her to the state pheasant farm at Grey, where they kept her alive by forced feed for a few days.
“When she died, they shipped her here,” Dr. Witter said. “It’s the first moose we’ve had here in about a year. Sometimes we get four or five a year. Can’t tell.”
Among the many tests run as a service to Maine farmers, the animal pathology laboratory tests for pullorum, mastitis, Bang’s disease, and many other animal disorders.
The contributions of the animal pathology branch are aimed at aiding the states wildlife program. Dr. Witter said that the laboratory has autopsied beaver, muskrat, otter, red fox and deer already this year.
“But as for the moose, I can’t tell you yet what caused her demise,” he told the student. “We injected a guinea pig with a sample of the moose’s blood yesterday and it’s still alright, so we’ve eliminated any sort of bacterial infection. All that remains is to finish testing the brain.”
Why, yes – they’ll discover the cause of death. After all, the animal pathology lab facilities are “equal to the best in any college in New England.”
Originally printed in September 28, 1950
I feel duty bound to join hands with the rest of the Campus staff in wishing all of you a welcome back. Most of you, dear friends, kept the Sunday editions of the newspaper busy this summer with all your engagements and marriages. To those of you who are still free, white and somewhere in the years between 17 and 35, I say, cheer up . the best is yet to come.
The statistics are proof in themselves. Last year the society column listed 115 pinnings, 60 engagements and 50 marriages. So you see, freshman, it’s almost as contagious as the air you breathe. For further information on how to go about catching this wonderful disease, consult any upper classmen. In the meanwhile, enjoy yourselves and have a good year.
Bangor Daily News