THE RELATION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE TO AGRICULTURE. 123 

 THE RELATION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE TO AGRICULTURE. 



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BY PROF. E. A. A. GRANGE. 



[Read at the Rochester and East Saginaw Institutes.] 

 Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Oentlemen : 



As the people of this State have from time to time been addressed by the 

 •different chairs of the Agricultural College in reference to their connection 

 with tlie profession from which the institution takes its name, I have thought 

 that at this time it might be well for the new department of veterinary to arise 

 and explain its relation to this important calling. I call this a new depart- 

 ment because this is the first year it has been recognized by the the Legis ature 

 •of Michigan, although it has been growing for some time; beginning, I believe, 

 with a few scattered lectures. These taking root, however, grew into a six 

 weeks' course, which after two summers developed into a full term study 

 which, in turn, branched into a course of lectures, extending through the 

 ■entire college year ; and this is the condition of the department now But 

 without speaking in metaphorical language and calling it a twin sister or a first 

 •cousin to its neighbor, I may say that the two professions are related in more 

 ways than one, and it is concerning these that I wish to say a few words to-day. 

 Although there may be some here who at first will think, why, every one knows 

 that to cure a sick animal is a good thing for a faru)er to be able to do, and to 

 them an address bearingupon this subject may appear superfluous, indeed I felt 

 .a little that way myself when I first thought of speaking upon the relation of 

 veterinary science to agriculture, but upon reflection I think it will appear 

 •evident to those who have any knowledge of the two professions that the mere 

 pouring down of appropriate remedies in the treatment of certain disorders 

 is not the only or even the principal feature through which they are connected, 

 .and bearing this fact in mind I hope to suggest something that will cause you 

 .to think of these two sciences in more intimate relationship, and of more 

 importance to one another than you have done in the past. 



In arranging my platform for action I have thought it advisable to take up 

 tthe different branches of the subject in about the same order that we follow in 

 our course of lectures at the college, for by so doing we will kill two birds with 

 ■one stone; in other words, it will give you some idea how veterinary is taught 

 at the college, and at the same time will show the relation of the individual 

 ■subjects to agriculture separately. We begin our course with the study of 

 veterinary anatomy; here we take the animal to pieces as it were, and learn 

 how the different parts are made, observing carefully their relations to one 

 .another, their situation, the uses they are intended for, and their appearance in 

 health. We also observe the defects in many instances which occur in weakly 

 •oonstructed parts, and by becoming familiar with these subjects, surely one is 

 more likely to observe their presence or absence, as the case may be, when 

 ■making a purchase, or judging the comparative value of several animals. 



Take for example the study of those levers of progression, more familiarly 

 called muscles, which perform the many and eccentric movements of the body. 

 Here is a branch of anatomy we all consider of great importance in our course ; 

 ;and little wonder, for by being conversant with the attachment, with the 

 .actions, the relations and shape of the 312 muscles which go to make up what 

 ^we commonly call the flesh or meat of an animal, we are in the possession of 



