Investigations carried out by workers both in Australia and New Zealand over a three-year period leading up to 1938 had demonstrated the profound importance to the health of livestock of a minute quantity of cobalt in the diet. Coast disease and enzootic marasmus in Australia, and bush sickness, Morton Mains disease and Mairoa disease in New Zealand, were associated with cobalt deficiency in pastures and were curable, partially and entirely, when cobalt was supplied. In addition to field experiments, Dr Cunningham undertook experimental work with rats in an attempt to gain knowledge of the function of cobalt in the animal system, and Josland investigated the blood-changes induced by cobalt deficiency. This work was done at the Wallaceville Animal Research Centre.