74
Make Fruitful the Livestock
Briefly, his views are the following : Stagnation and complacency tend to
develop in such State institutions and there is a danger that science will
become reduced in them to an official routine. Research may be devoted
to objects which the politician or civil servant regards as of national import-
ance for the moment and there is a danger that it will be planned by adminis-
trators in offices instead of by enterprizing young men imbued with the spirit
of pioneers in laboratories or workshops. The separation of teaching from
research is a great disadvantage. This last aspect of the problem, together
with the training of research workers, has been also dealt with by Professor
Topley. 1
It is not suggested that all Civil servants and all Government departments
are endowed in the extreme with the disability of exerting the above baneful
influence on the progress of research. The tendency, however, must be
admitted to be a grave one. It can only be overcome if free rein is given to
well-informed criticism. The growth of veterinary research under direct
Government control is a development that is, therefore, not wholly to be
deplored. It is contended strongly, however, that this development is one
that ought to be accompanied by a corresponding strengthening of the vete-
rinary colleges. For it is at the veterinary colleges that should prevail the
atmosphere required for liberal criticism and independence in research. Large-
ly through lack of funds the colleges now seem to continue their work under
great difficulties. Because of the competing attractions of better equipped
institutions the colleges will soon cease to attract or retain on their staffs
the most gifted men capable of inspiring teaching.
To promote a healthy and vigorous growth in veterinary research, and
in adequate manner to teach veterinary students, the facilities for research
and teaching at the veterinary colleges ought, therefore, to be greatly ex-
tended. A new importance must be attached to clinical teaching of certain
aspects of veterinary work which in the past have been woefully neglected,
such as, for example, the reproductive disorders of farm animals. In the
basic training of the student, there must be again to this end a new importance
attached particularly to the subject of animal physiology and to all aspects
of animal husbandry. It is only by the application of the knowledge that
we ought to possess in these subjects that we can play a worthy part in live-
stock production.
Any future schemes of investigation, in animal husbandry or disease
control, ought, it is felt, to be linked in as close a manner as is possible, with
the activities of the veterinary colleges. It is hoped that Veterinary Investi-
gation Officers will come to occupy an important place in the work of the Sur-
vey Scheme when it reaches fruition and that their numbers will be greatly
increased. The most appropriate base from which the Veterinary Investiga-
tion Officer should operate is, in the view of the present writer, a veterinary
college. The Officer at such location would be able to draw on the knowledge
of his colleagues and in turn provide them with themes and materials for in-
vestigation. His experience and knowledge could not but be beneficial to the
student. At present it is distressing to contemplate the paucity of first-hand
knowledge placed within the reach of the veterinary student.
1 Lancet. (1938), ii, 6014.