VETERINARY SCIENCE VETERINARY SCIENCE.
lential type, which had made sad havoc among the stock, and had swept them from the green hills and verdant valleys, as by the blast of a tor nado. Their horses, too, did not escape the arm of the destroyer; they were constantly suffering and dying from insidious forms of disease, the history and characters of which were almost unknown. This state of things, together with the unfortunate occurrence that there were no legitimate practitioners, had opened a wide field for adventurers and quacks, whose barbarous systems, of medication, probably, was the cause of many deaths. These practitioners, in lieu of better, were taken as standards, and the people had, to a great extent, formed an estimate of the value of this art in exact ratio to the talents of the village farrier, and in proportion to the suc cess that attended his labors. This is precisely the state of affairs in America. St. Bel gives ns another reason for his failure, but it amounts to nearly the same thing. He says: The opulence of England offered a wide field for imposters of foreign origin, by whom the nation was daily imposed on, and repeated experience of such impositions naturally excited distrust towards foreigners in general; and because honesty of views was not written on his face, patience and perseverance became his only resources. At this stage of affairs St. Bel was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of a gentleman who had a decided taste for the art, and who eagerly responded to the views of the professor, and bade him not despair of ultimate success; assur ing him that by setting the matter in its right light before the people he would soon obtain all he desired. This assurance inspired St. Bel with new hopes, and he immediately issued a pam phlet of some twenty-eight pages, entitled, Plan for Establishing an Institution to Cultivate and Teach the Veterinary Art. This pamphlet was well received, and several agricultural societies paid the writer handsome compliments, and con ferred on him honorary distinction. During the year 1790, several meetings took place between the members of agricultural societies and others favorable to the cause; at length measures were adopted for promoting the object. A resolution to this purport was now passed, which read as fol lows: That the parties had observed the good effects produced on the public mind by the exer tions of the friends to the art, for its improve ment, and approved of St. Bel's plan for estab lishing a public institution for that purpose. The result was, that an institution was soon endowed, which was named The Veterinary Col lege of London, to which St. Bel was appointed professor. But, unfortunately, that distinguished individual had scarcely occupied the chair one year, when a sudden and brief illness terminated his mortal career, and he was consigned_to the tomb ere the laurels had scarcely encircled his brow. Being thus cut off at such an early period, yet in thc midst of his usefulness, the prospects of the infant institution became greatly affected—only for a short season, however. The college was considered to be in a flourishing condition; the Duke of Northumberland had already contributed a sum equal in our money to twenty-five hundred dollars, and the enterprise numbered among its staunch supporters such men as the Earl of Grosvenor, Mr. Penn, Earl Morton, Drs. John Hunter and Crawford, and subsequently that great surgeon and medical hero, Sir Astley Cooper. Medical men hailed the new enterprise as one not only calculated to ameliorate the condition of suffering domestic animals, but, what was of still greater impor tance to them and mankind, they perceived in it a fruitful field for the cultivation of comparative anatomy and physiology. With this object in view, Dr. J. Hunter assisted the friends of the new school both by his professional influence and from his private purse. Although the col lege had been in existence but a brief period, its pupils had gained sufficient knowledge of theory and practice to distinguish themselves; thus fully realizing the anticipations of its foun ders. Among the first students who sought to qualify themselves as efficient veterinary prac titioners, we find recorded the names of Lau rence, Blain and Clark. Each of these philan thropists has since left to the world a record of their labors, which, even in this enlightened age, serve as useful guides to the young aspirant for veterinary fame. The professorship made vacant by the death of the father of this science, St. Bel, was conferred on Mr. Coleman, who had previously devoted himself to physiological research; he, too, soon distinguished himself, and the college again assumed its former flour ishing condition. A medical committee was now appointed, consisting of some of the most emi nent practioners that the country could boast of, by whom the pupils were examined, and when, found to have acquired sufficient knowledge of the art, certificates were granted accordingly. We are informed that this medical examining committee were lecturers of human medicine, aria with a liberality that reflected great credit on.
them, permitted the veterinary pupils to attend their lectures on human anatomy free of charge. Thus did a band of really great and good men unite their efforts and interests, for the study of the science of life in all its diversities and forms. By this wise association of the sister sciences, its. advocates aimed a death blow at ignorance, quackery, and superstition of the times, and they were successful to some extent; for a new order of practitioners took the field; they soon. demolished the old landmarks set up by the ignorant farriers, and created in their stead beacons of light; thus spreading the illuminating rays of science broadcast, and the public, as well as domestic animals, were benefited thereby. The advantages under which the veterinary art can now be studied in England, France, and_ Germany are not inferior to those of the most favored university; and such astonishing discov eries, through the aid of chemistry and the. microscope, are in such rapid succession surpris ing the medical world, and so splendid are the. achievements in the departments of veterinary surgery, that the noble sons of 2Esculapius (our brethren of the human school) are watching the labors of their kindred spirits with no ordinary interest. In the United States comparatively few graduates have entered the sphere of vet erinary science. Some of our agricultural col leges have chairs of veterinary science, and yet to the American mind seeking an honorable pro fession the duties pertaining to veterinary prac tice do not seem to take kindly to it. Hence it is left principally to the graduates of European schools, who have emigrated hither. In our great cities every large stable has its paid veteri narian. In the country, especially in the more sparsely- settled districts, it would be impossible for a veterinary surgeon to gain a living. Hence the greater need that every owner of animals -4hould know something of the treatment of them, and hence again the reason why in this work we consider it important to give plain, sim ple, concise rules for the treatment of such dis eases as generally come under the eye of the agriculturist, and which will be found treated of under their appropriate titles. Some of the fam ily scales made at the present day are so nicely adjusted that they will answer for weighing drugs where the nicest accuracy is not needed. For this reason we give a table of apothecaries -weights of quantities by untensils. Apothecaries weight is as follows: Sixty- grains make one drachm; eight drachm one ounce, and sixteen ounces one pound. Where strict accuracy is uot essential: sixty drops is equal to a teaspoon full. and a teaspoonfull is a drachm; four tett spoonfulls make a tablespoonful] or half an ounce; two tablespoonfulls make an ounce; one wineglassfull, two ounces; oue teacupfull four ounces; one tumblerfull, one half-pint, and two make a pint. So also the half pint and pint tin cup may be used as measures. Never theless, where much stock is kept it is better that the farmer provide himself not only- with the proper scales, but also with a graduated fluid measure. So also it would be better that a few instruments should be kept, as for instance, a blunt pointed bistoury for operating under the skin or in cavities. A thumb lancet, as being better than the old fashioned fleam. and safer than the spring lancet, gauging the depth with the thumb. A. pair of forceps, for dressing wounds, catching and holding arteries for tying, etc. An aneurismal needle, blunt pointed for introducing small seton tapes, and if necessary' for exploring wounds; a silver probe, however, blunt at one end and sharp at the other is better. A frog knife, such as is wed by horse shoers, for clean ing and paring the hoofs, etc. A pair of curved scissors for trimming the edges of wounds, and cutting away hair close to the skin. A straight broad scalpel, which is useful in opening ab sce,sses, as well as for castrating anitnals. These with a seton needle, a few surgical needles, and ,onte white silk, linen thread, or fine catg-ut for tying wounds will provide amply- for any case as ordinarily' coming up on the farm, or when it may not be imperatively necessary to call a vet erinaty surgeon. A small collection of medi cines to be kept will be found useful. White or opaque bottles should be used, since the action of light changes some substances. Keep every thing well corked, and all corrosive substances in strong glass bottles with ground glass stoppers. So instruct the druggist of whomyou buy. Front live to ten doses of each will be sufficient. The annexed list of medicines as given by Dr. Law in his Veterinary Adviser will be found val uable for reference being arranged for all farm animals. Those marked by. a star (*) will be found useful to have always at hand. The list is as follows: A.cetic Acid, antidote to alkaliee, cooling aetringent: llorse 1 drachm; ox 2 drachms: ass 1 drachm; eheen 1 scruple; dog 2 to 3 drops.