The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-24
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 I knew that the first veterinary school in modern times was instituted in 17e2 at Lyons, France; and that similar institution was established In London in 1791. and the year following one in Berlin, and pr. Deck founded college in Edinburgh in about 1925 and a charter was granted in 1852 by Penn sylvania-but before you ever give our anything for sure it is well to look backward and see what the Chinese or the old Egyptians have done.
 There is evidence that the Egyptians practiced veterinary medicine and sur gerry in very remote times; but it is not until we turn to the Greeks that we obtain very definite information with regard to the state of veterinary as we'll as human medicine in antiqui- ty. The writings of Hippocrates (4oo- BIT B. O afford evidence of excel lent Investigations in comparative pathology.
 Diocles of Carystus, who was nearly contemporary was one of the first to occupy himself with anatomy, which he studied in animals/ while many other Greek writers on veterinary medicine are cited or copied from by varro. Columella and Galen. Aristotle, too, wrote on physiology and compara- tive anatomy and on the maladies of animals.
 Perhaps the most renowned veteri- marian of the Roman empire was Ap- syrtus of Bithynia, who in 322 accom- panied the expedition of Constantine against the Samaritans in his profess sional capacity. and yet it was only. in the recent great world war that our American veterinarians came into deserved apart from the quartermas- ter's department.
 I heard an army veterinarian talk at the conference the other day and it was most Illuminating to know the progress which has been made in the profession, and anyone who is &C., quainted with the facts will no longer speak slightingly of the studious and conscientious veterinarians as mere morse doctors" They held a mighty important place in the war activities, for not only was the care of the mules and horses turned over to them, but they were responsible for meat in spection which would make a story in itself.
 Apsyrtus, who was in the train of Constantine, was keen observer, for we read of him that he distinguished and described number of diseases which were badly defined by his pre- decessors, recognizing the contagious nature of glanders, farcy and anthrax, and prescribed isolation for their sup pression. Yet it came out that in the laying out of the camps the base hos pitals for animals were constructed in the midst of the cantonments without any thought of quarantine, but it was because the matter had not been turn ed over to the veterinarians but was in the hands of the quartermaster.
 
 Towards the close of the medieval period the subject was much cultivated in the cavalry schools of Italy, and Spain also had an organized system of good practitioners in the fifteenth century, who have left many books still extant In Great Britain animal medicine was perhaps in more ad- vanced condition than in Germany The earliest known works in English appeared anonymously towards the commencement of the sixteenth cen tury.
 The Italians, however, were the lead- fifteenth century the increasing tasto for horses and horsemanship brought Italian riding masters and farriers into England; and it is recorded that Henry VIII brought over two of these men who had been trained by Grisone in the famous Neapoitan school. Among the Celts the healer of horse diseases and horseshoers were held in high es- teem as among the more civilized na- tions of Europe. and the court farrier enjoyed special privileges.
 But I did not sit down to even try to give an outline of the growth Of veterinary medicine and surgery but both have kept pace with that of tho general practice of human medicine. and the measures for preventing the spread of contagious diseases among animals are applied as vigorously as among mon.
 Tho bureau of animal industry in the United States department of agri- culture takes care of veterinary qucs- tions that come before the government and the states and large cities have veterinarians who investigate diseases and attend to the enforcement of the veterinary laws of the districts in which they have power. The work a. pr. Cary stands out conspicuously for its efficiency and the federal agents are on the job. I only cite tick eradi- cation as ono of the many activities in Alabama.
 wish I could have attended all the sessions of the veterinarians for I am sure that I would have at least gotten better idea of the range of activi- ties being at present covered by the ! men who are devoting their lives tc a most worthy profession. I take Dr. Piatt. n fellow Rotarian, as a type oi the veterinarian who is serving his