VETERANS' BUREAU: see PENSIONS : UNITED STATES. VETERINARY SCIENCE, the branch of knowledge that deals with the anatomy of domesticated animals, their physiology and racial characteristics, their breeding, feeding and hygienic management ; the pathology and treatment of their diseases and injuries; the improvement of stock; their relations to man with regard to inter-communicable maladies and to his use of their flesh and products. Here the subject is considered in relation to medicine; other aspects are treated under special headings. (See HORSE, DOG, etc. ; ANTHRAX, CANINE DISTEMPER, GLANDERS, etc.; SLAUGHTER-HOUSE and ABATTOIR; and the comparative anatomy sections of separate anatomical articles.) History.—The veterinary art in its modern development dates from the establishment of the veterinary school of Lyons in 1761. Schools were established in London in 1791; Edinburgh, 1823; Glasgow, 1863; Dublin, 190o; and Liverpool 19°4 (trans fer of a second Edinburgh school founded in 1873).
The profession was first organized in Great Britain by the foundation in 1844 of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
This body regulates the examinations of students who must be trained in an affiliated veterinary college, appoints examiners, and admits as members of the college all who pass the qualifying ex aminations. There is thus only one portal into the veterinary profession. The Royal college keeps the statutory register of veterinary surgeons, has power to remove the names of members convicted of misdemeanours or of conduct disgraceful in a pro fessional respect, and to prosecute unregistered persons who use a title stating that they are specially qualified to practise (Veteri nary Surgeons Act, 1881). The recognized course of instruction covers a period of four years after the passing of an approved examination in general education, and leads to the diploma of M.R.C.V.S. Possession of this diploma is essential for com missioned rank in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and for appointment as government veterinary officers in Great Britain and in the Dominions.
The Royal college also grants the postgraduate diploma of fellow, after presentation of a thesis of sufficient merit and the passing of a special examination. The college diploma in veteri nary state medicine is awarded after nine months' postgraduate study in epizootiology, veterinary bacteriology, and protozoology, veterinary hygiene and toxicology, chemistry, meat inspection, dairy and milk inspection, administration and reporting. The universities of London, Edinburgh and Liverpool grant degrees in veterinary science (bachelor, master and doctor) ; the course is usually taken with that for the qualifying diploma but occupies five years. The degree in itself does not confer a licence to prac tise or entitle to registration. Liverpool university grants a post
graduate diploma in veterinary hygiene, and Manchester uni versity a diploma in veterinary State medicine.
The veterinarian is in Great Britain legally debarred from treating certain diseases, e.g., pleuro-pneumonia of cattle, rinder pest, glanders, epizootic lymphangitis, sheep-pox, rabies and foot and mouth disease. The Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894-1925, and the orders made thereunder provide for notification of the above named diseases.
The Orders also provide for the notification of anthrax, para sitic mange of horses, sheep-scab, swine fever and certain forms of tuberculosis. Diagnosis of suspected disease by veterinary in spectors is followed by segregation, and destruction of diseased and in-contact animals where necessary with suitable compensa tion. Many markets and farms, and all ports, are systematically inspected and all importation of animals controlled. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has a staff of veterinary inspectors for this work and for the investigation of other animal diseases.
Local authorities in Great Britain and Ireland employ veteri nary officers, either whole-time or part-time, for meat and milk inspection and to carry out the statutory duties of the authority for the eradication of contagious disease.
Research institutes have been established in London, Cam bridge, Edinburgh, Weybridge and elsewhere, for the investiga tion of animal diseases and for the preparation of vaccines and sera for their prevention or treatment. Similar institutes have been created in many of the Dominions and Colonies.
In the United States courses leading to the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Science require three years and in the best colleges four years, the requirements for admission being a high-school educa tion or its equivalent. Most of the State Universities have veteri nary colleges in connection with their schools of agriculture and some of them give a six-year combined course leading to degrees in both agriculture and veterinary medicine. The American Vet erinary Medical Association holds a place comparable to that of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in Great Britain and exercises an influence on the setting of standards in the profes sion. Practitioners must be graduates of an acceptable school to gain admission. Besides the demand for private practice in rural localities, especially in connection with the growing dairy indus try, the Bureau of Animal Industries, U.S. Dept. of Agri., employs about a thousand veterinarians as meat inspectors, quarantine agents, and in extension work. The Veterinary Corps is a division of the Medical Department of the Army. Veterinary graduates are also in demand as State Veterinarians, as teachers and gov ernment research workers.