Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-30
Old worlds.
Written rthe Cincinnati Press By G. II. Daddy.


Old Worlds.
Written for the Cincinnati Press, By G. II. Dadj, V.
s., Cincinnati.
The necessity which now exists for the SER
vices OF educated and properly qualified vet
erinary surgeons in the United States army,
is low acknowledged, and understand that
the matter will soon receive the attention of
Congress; prior, however, to the period of
the great domestic calamity which now af-
ficts this country, it was found impossible
to interest the right kind of men in the sub
ject of veterinary science, SO that they might
be induced to use their efforts to legally
establish veterinary schools of instruction in
this country; but it is never too late to do
good, and the probability is that soon a sur
geon and assistant surgeon of our craft will
be appointed to each cavalry regiment.
There is no reason why the profession should
not hold the same rank here as in other
countries; the veterinary surgeons of Lon
don and Abort sustain a high reputation
emong scientific men; and they have not
only done much to prevent many unneces-
ssry diseases and frequent deaths among live
stock, but they have also done much to ad-
vance the cause of science.
At time like the present period, when
al tJts dl6 duAlOuSll JOWdEu
profession in view of arresting the great
losses which our Government is now sus-
tanning in the deaths of army horses, have
thought that a few brief remarks on the his
tory of our science might be interesting to
the readers of this paper.
1t was natural that the evils of domestica-
tioD should generate diseases among horses
similar to those among their task masters;
hence, the Egyptians, who were a warlike
nation, found il to their interest to study
the nature and treatment of eqUine diseases,
and the knowledge thus acquired was
finally communicated to the Creeks. Among
the pames Of the great men who we're par
tiCulary celebrated for their skill in medi.
cine, are found Chiron, Hippocrates, Vege-
titus, and about this period Homer and
XeDOphon both used their pens for the bene.
fit of the horse, but during the dark ages
veterinary science fell almost into oblivion.
During the sixteenth century veterinary art
emerged from the halo of superstition aud
darkness with which it had lately been sur.
rounded. 1t Was not, however, until the year
l76l that this science made any important
progress; at this period the public purse
strings were loosened and veterinary COL
lege was established at Lyons, aud the cele-
brated Bourgelat was installed as Professor
The great benefits derived from services rem
oered to sick and lame animals by the stu
dents and qualified members of this institu-
ton, soon attracted much attention, and a
similarsschool was inaugurated at Alfort,
near Paris. Similar establishments have
since been organized in every European
country.
In a brief article like this it would be be-
yond my purpose to name the distinguished
writer's and teachers that have hourished
during the above period up to that of 1913.
T.. tLo CtL
Bel, made his appearance in England aud
issued proposals for the establishment of a
veterinary college, but the English people,
like some of the people of this country at
the present time, estimated the value of the
science in exact ratio to the results of the
practice Of the uneducated COW leach and
horse doctor, and st. Bel got his labor for
his pains. He accordingly went back to
France. Two years afterward he returned
to England, and received encouragement
an assistance from some of the most wealthy
ard influential men of that country. An
institution called The veterinary College
OF London" was established, and this distiu-
guisbed Frenchman was appointed Profess
sor
st. Bel did not live long to enjoy the hon.
ors be had so richly earned; he died in 1893,
and was succeeded by Messrs. Coleman and
Morecroft. Among the jealous supporters
of the college was John Hunter SIR Ashley
Cooper, Bransly Cooper and many other
learned physicians; in short, the sympathies
of the people of the whole country were
aroused 10 view of sustaining this novel en-
terprise, and the British Parliament annually
voted sum of money for its support. The
reigning monarch, George Ill, granted the
rank of commissioned officers to the gradu.
ates of this college who wished to enter the
army.
Since the establishment of this college,
two more have gone into operation in Scot
land and one in Ireland.
Such is brief history of our science in
the old worlds; it remains now to be seen
what the American people will do in view
of rendering this science popular on this side
of the Atlantic. 1t is science that is cal
culated to be of immense benefit to Ameri-
cans-a nation of husbandmen-who have
as great, if not greater, interests at stake
than any other nation on the face of the
earth.