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KU Researchers Study Disease Similar to TB
A year's study by University researchers has done much to shed light on a fungus disease that for years had been mistaken for tuberculosis.
The peculiar thing about this disease, called histoplasmosis, is that most of its victims are found in Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio river valleys. The researchers are investigating the possibility of the disease being carried in the water supply.
"This is one problem in which we hope to find negative results," Dwight F. Metzler, assistant professor of sanitary engineering, said.
Prof. Metzler and his co-workers have found the bacteria to be extremely adaptive to tap water. Most bacteria cannot survive long in tap water due to the lack of food, but this fungus has lived for as long as 550 days.
The bacteria survive longest and grow at 40 degrees F to 75 degrees F, Prof. Metzler said. This is about the natural range of temperature for surface water. Freezing and thawing seem to have little effect on the bacteria, which have been put through this test nine times in the course of four months without results. But the bacteria do not survive at warm summer temperatures of 98 degrees F to 100 degrees F.
Prof. Metzler, who is also chief engineer of the Kansas State Board of Health, is directing the study under a grant from the United States Public Health Service. The original grant of $4,100 was received last year, and it has been renewed this year.
One of the original objectives was to find out how great a depth of sand is required in a filter to remove the spores which cause the disease. Linked with this was a study to determine how much chlorine is needed to produce a 100 per cent kill of the germ.
Prof. Metzler has found that sand filtration does not remove the spores, and it takes more chlorine than is added to regular drinking water to kill these spores.
The research is now entering its
University Daily Kansan
Library Shows English Books
Watson library has arranged an exhibition of books depicting early Victorian English life. The exhibition is in connection with the lectures on early Victorian England by Dr. John W. Dodds, director of special programs in the humanities at Stanford university.
Many of the books represented in the exhibition are part of Watson library's rare book collection. Several of these books printed during the early Victorian period, are representatives of the "shilling shocker" books, which are comparable to our paper-bound dime novels of today.
One set of rare books, entitled "London Labour and the London Poor," deals primarily with the social problems of the early Victorian period. Another item on display at the exhibition is a copy of Volume I of Punch magazine, published in 1841.
Meeting Set Today For Senior Officers
The exhibition also contains a copy of "Age of Paradox," the book on early Victorian life during the years 1841-1851, written by Dr. John W. Dodds.
Tentative plans for the annual Senior Class day will be discussed at an executive meeting of the senior class officers at 9:30 p.m. today in the Pine room of the Union.
The group will also receive a report on the senior class dance, and set a time for the class to meet and discuss their gift to the University.
College Daze Tryouts Set
second stage, trying to isolate the fungus from water sources, especially those associated with known cases of Histoplasmosis. Preliminary results indicate that the molecular filter will be a valuable aid in the isolation process.
Instrumental tryouts of nonunion men and women for College Daze will be held tonight and Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Activities office at the Union.
The researchers are not sure if the bacteria will be found in ground water supplies, although tests tend to show they could appear there. If so, this will lead to methods of control by chemical treatment of municipal water reservoirs, Prof. Metzler said.
Cooperating with Prof. Metzler will be N. P. Sherwood, professor of bacteriology; Michael L. Furcolow of the Medical Center, and Russell L. Culp, chief of the water supply section of the State Board of Health department at the University. Cassandra Ritter, principal bacteriologist of the division of sanitation of the State Board of Health, and Stanley Silberg, KU graduate, are also working on the project.
High School Seniors To Attend Jubilee
About 750 high school seniors are expected to visit the University for the Jayhawk Jubilee, to be held April 18.
The jubilee, or spring homecoming, will be in conjunction with the relays, the Engineering exposition, and Union building open house. Seniors from every Kansas high school have been invited to visit the campus.
Architects Hear Church Designer
Uel C. Ramey, Wichita architect who designed the new Immanuel Lutheran church at 17th and Vermont, will speak to a meeting of architecture students at 7:30 p.m. today in Spooner Thayer auditorium.
Mr. Ramey will speak on "The Architect and the New Graduate." The meeting is being sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, Scarab architectural fraternity, and Tau Sigma Delta.
Tuesday, March 31, 1953
All architectural students are invited to the talk, following which coffee and doughnuts will be served.
American Compositions Featured at Musical
By WAYNE KNOWLES
An impatient April shower prevented many from attending the Sigma Alpha Iota American Musical, one of the most interesting musical events of the year, which was held in Museum of Art Monday evening.
The program which consisted entirely of American compositions was opened by "Tumbling Hair" E. E. Cummings' poem, set to music by Peter Mennin and performed by the Sigma Alpha Iota Choral Ensemble. The choral ensemble later sang Mennin's litling "Bought Locks" and Burrill Phillips' light-hearted "The Hag" with lyrics from Robert Herrick's "Hesperides."
"Bright Caps and Streamers," a rhythmical yet lyric number, and "O, It Was Out by Donny Carney," a ballad, composed by Willard Straight, KU 51, were arranged for the ensemble by Betty Theis, director.
"Frelude (1551)," the work of another KU composer, John Pezdro, instructor in music theory, was played by Nancy Hindman, pianist.
Miss Hindman also played Charles Griffes' impressionistic "White Peacock."
Norman Dello Joio's strong and strangely plaintive setting of Carl Sandburg's "Mill Doors" was an admirable vehicle for Christine Wiley's alto. Depth of feeling was also evident in her performance of "There Were Two Swans" by Vittorio Giannini.
Soprano Mary Lee Haury moved from the wistful sadness of "Alice Rodd" and "Susannah Fry" from Theodore Channel's "Eight Epitaphs" to the tenderly lyrical "In a Myrtle Shade" by Charles Griffes.
Carleen Mears and Jeannine De-Groot displayed their dexterity in "Nip and Tuck," a clarinet duet by Barrington-Sargent and in Fabre's graceful and mellow "Reverie."
A. T. Co.