Below is a collection of selected historical narratives written by Dr. William Gay, president of AALAS in 1968. These articles outline ways in which our members have sought to establish the highest possible standards in laboratory animal science.
The Inception of the Animal Care Panel At the first meeting of the Animal Care Panel November 28, 1950, Dr. Nathan “Nate” Brewer, who was to be president for the next five years, reported that this is how and why we started:
“This organization is the logical outcome of the realization by research laboratories that their animal colonies are becoming increasingly the responsibility of each institution, rather that of each researcher. That realization led to the appointment of someone who would be responsible for problems that would evolve with the increased responsibility of the institution.
“In Chicago, where in the space of a few years five research institutions have added veterinarians to their staffs, there was a natural inclination to get together and discuss problems of mutual interest. So much was gained by these discussions that it was decided to sound out other areas for probable interest participation. The response was favorable enough to attempt today’s meeting.
“For those of you who are impressed with the idea of this panel there will be a formal meeting after the last paper, if time permits, or after dinner at the Quadrangle Club tonight, to decide whether this panel should continue, what form it should take, who should officiate for the coming year, and perhaps other points.
“Since starting these annual meetings other organizations have set up activities that are designed to carry out functions so similar to those for which the panel was founded that last year the panel considered the proposition that it be dissolved and that these other organizations, all of them better financed, take over those functions that this panel assumed in the absence of such necessary activities.
“The proposal to discontinue the panel was rejected. Instead, there was agreement to become formalized. Since the last meeting a constitution has been adopted by your interim executive committee, and we have become incorporated as a not-for-profit institution in the State of Illinois.”
The Emergence of Animal Care Technicians Although “Care” disappeared from the title of the organizational, it has never disappeared form the basic goal of the organization. The reason it disappeared was because the members thought of themselves as a professional organization and wanted a title that indicated that. Recognition of CARE as a goal has been pre-eminent in the work to provide a superior, qualified and trainee person who is directly in touch with the animal patient/subject daily. Thus in 1954 and 1955 we already see a glimmer of planning for a program to provide qualified Animal Technicians to meet this goal.
From the Animal Care Panel Board 1954 Committee Reports Mr. Wentworth Cumming reported on the activities of the committee to procure a representative of the Animal Care Panel for the Animal Technicians Association meeting to be held at Oxford (England) March 28-29, 1955. It was reported that although all arrangements had not yet been completed, there was reason for optimism.
The accreditation program for animal caretakers and animal technicians proposed during the year by Dr. Flynn was discussed. It was agreed that some such program is needed and that the Animal Care Panel should be the accrediting body. It was further agreed that this committee should spend the coming year observing the results and experiences of those who plan training courses, attempting to draw up an examination syllabus that is adaptable to the methods employed by the majority of animal breeders and users, and possible, writing a handbook on basic animal care for animal caretakers. Emphasis was placed on the fact that this project was still in the exploratory stage, but that this should not be considered an excuse for no activity.
From the Animal Care Panel Board 1955 Committee Reports Committee on Education of Animal Technicians: R.D. Henthorne reported that this committee in conjunction with a similar committee of the IAR (V. Schwentker, Chairman), was still in the planning stages. He indicated, however, that the final program would be quite extensive.
Committee on Standards and Regulations for the Care of Laboratory Animals: L.R. Christensen gave a progress report concerning the activities of this committee.
Representative to the L.A.B. and A.T.A.: C.N.W. Cumming reported that Dr. A.E. Earl has been delegated to attend the 1956 annual meeting of the Animal Technicians Association and the annual Laboratory Animals Bureau Symposium, both being held in Great Britain.
From the Board of Directors Meeting, April 12, 1960, Animal Technician Certifying Board The chairman, Christensen, reported that this newly formed group had held its first meeting, and that its immediate objectives will be first, to certify a group of Supervisors using the “grandfather” clause, and second, to prepare for and hold its first examinations. Meanwhile, until they have had time to get organized, Christensen asked that no announcement regarding the program be made in the Proceedings and that all other publicity be held to a minimum.
This first action was 11 years before the first Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was passed by the U.S. Congress. Although the AWA was amended in 1970 and 1976 the final Act we live with today was passed in 1985, 30 years after AALAS had begun provision of excellent service to the animal research community. It also proceeded by 30 years the National Institutes of Health policy on Laboratory Animal Assurance required of grantee institutions.
By 1968 the Technician Program was well underway and the Manual for Laboratory Animal Technicians was available for $2. What a change! This was of course before Alan Greenspan took over managing inflation.
From the Board of Directors Meeting, 1968, Animal Technician Certification Board Chairman Bleicher reported that to date 225 junior technicians, 125 senior technicians and 41 master technicians have been certified in 1968. These numbers added to the January 1 figures bring the total number of people certified to 1454. He reported that the brochure on the Animal Technician Certification Program has been revised and published. The Board has also revised the brochure entitled Film and Filmstrips Related to Animal Care (Publication 68-2). Over 3000 copies of the Manual for Laboratory Animal Technicians have been distributed (Publication 67-3—Price $2.00). He reported that a manual for Master Animal Technicians is being written under the direction of George Collins.
He further reported that the ATCB was working closely with the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS). He recommended that “to cover the necessary expenses to be incurred by both organizations, half of the collected fee (by the CALAS group) will remain with CALAS and half forwarded to AALAS with completed application forms”. It was moved, seconded and passed (Motion 4) that the ATCB be authorized to proceed with the arrangements with CALAS as outlined.
Animal Technicians Policy Committee This committee was an ad hoc committee in 1968. The Committee met on October 21, 1968. Chairman Bingham submitted the following recommendations to the Board:
Views of Early 20th Century Griffin Award Winner Revisited The 1961 winner of the Animal Care Panel’s (ACP) Griffin Award was Dr. K.F. Meyer, a veterinarian from Switzerland who directed the Hooper Foundation at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco. Earlier, when the ACP had its eighth annual meeting in San Francisco in 1957, they asked him to be a speaker.
It was a most interesting choice since, at that time, he had been a practicing scientist for more than 50 years. He gave the audience a fascinating look at the care and use of laboratory animals during the first half of the 20th century. Referring to the German laboratory of Paul Ehrlich, Dr. Meyer said:
Government institutes, for example the Royal Prussian Institute for Experimental Therapy under Paul Ehrlich at Frankfurt, had several of these invaluable authorities [here he refers to the “Diener” who had years of experience and knowledge about raising animals] who developed plans for the supply of animals either free from infections or at least in balance with their parasites. Around 1910, this institute proposed centralization of laboratory animal breeding under government control. Shortly after the first world war the institute in Frankfurt undertook the breeding of mice and guinea pigs, developing genetically pure strains. During this period it was also learned that chronically or latently infected animals may furnish exceedingly unpleasant surprises and many misleading observations. The significance of infections of laboratory animals had received little attention because research in human diseases had been separated from research in animal diseases. Considerable interest was aroused in 1920 by the recognition that some communicable diseases of laboratory rodents furnished excellent material for the study of epidemiological problems.
In regard to the history of public policy regarding the use of laboratory animals in research, Dr. Meyer observed that in California “The institutions engaged in medical research in this state though operating under a system of rules adopted by the American Medical Association in 1910, have continuously appraised their own operations. In 1917, the University of California adopted its ‘Rules Regarding Animals’ and revised them in 1939.” Dr. Meyer also said, “The steps in the development of a sound animal care program reached a new height in 1951 in the adoption of the legislative act entitled ‘Regulation of the Use of Animals in Diagnostic Procedures and Research.’” This new law, administered by the California State Department of Health, required licensing of animal facilities and record keeping.
Dr. Meyer spoke further about the problems of animal health in the laboratory and the efforts by people in the laboratory animal field to provide animals free of disease.
In conclusion he said “Interested organizations (ACP and related groups) have brought about a great deal of judgment and imagination to the development of animal resources, and these have been expressed in substantial progress. Your pioneering services to bring organizations in continuity in this field is greatly respected and appreciated by all of us who use animals in research. I wish you continuing success in your undertakings.”
No doubt Dr. Meyer would take great satisfaction in seeing that the AALAS formerly known as the Animal Care Panel, has become the leading laboratory animal science organization today.
JAALAS