Hans (Jacob) Meier, veterinary bacteriologist, qualified in veterinary medicine at the University of Zurich in 1917 and as Dr.Med.Vet. in Berne in 1919 with a thesis on Digifolin, ein neues Digitalis-praeparat und seine Wirkung beim Pferd (published in Basel, 1919). He was recruited by Dr Arnold Theiler* and came to South Africa in 1919 to work at the Armoedsvlakte research station near Vryheid. The next year he was one of several co-authors with Theiler of a paper on "The causes and prevention of Lamziekte" in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Union of South Africa (1920, Vol. 1, pp. 221-224). He returned to Switzerland in 1921. However, several years later he was again one of the co-authors of an extensive report by Theiler on "Lamsiekte (parabotulism) in cattle in South Africa", published in the 11th and 12th Reports of the Director of Veterinary Education and Research (1927, Part 2, pp. 821-1361). In Switzerland he became a colonel in the cavalry of the Swiss army.

List of sources:
Author and Subject Index to the Government Veterinary Reports of the Transvaal and Union of South Africa (1903-1932). Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, June 1937.

Brown, M.H.V. & Curson, H.H. The veterinary profession in South Africa. 6: Theses for the doctorate. Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association, 1933, Vol. 4(3), pp. 186-188.

Pospischil, A. Arnold Theiler and colleagues: a successful cooperation between Switzerland and South Africa (2020). https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/74444

Posthumus, P.J. Past Veterinarians in South Africa, Vol. 2, 10th edition, [1992].

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2025-05-01 11:25:08