THE VETERINARY INSTITUTE AT VIENNA, AUSTRIA. 285 



6. "Kurschmiede " {Farriers with authority to treat certain dis- 

 eases of the horse). — The course was two years, and all applicants 

 had to bring certificates of ability to shoe horses, and as to their 

 having faithfully served their allotted time in the army, and be able 

 to read and write. In the first year they attended lectures upon the 

 elements of physics and chemistry, equine anatomy and physiology, 

 and therapeutics and materia medica; in the second, the special 

 pathology and therapy of equine diseases, surgery, operative sur- 

 gery and obstetrics, exterior, breeding, forensic equine medicine 

 and practice in relation to the external and internal diseases of the 

 horse ; further, anatomy and physiology were again repeated. 



7. Veterinary Surgeons. — None out graduated doctors or wound 

 doctors were admitted. The course also lasted two years : the first 

 being devoted to natural history, dietetics, breeding, hygiene, anat- 

 omy and physiology of the domestic animals, general pathology and 

 therapeutics ; the second to special pathology and therapeutics, 

 theoretic and operative surgery, exterior, breeding, forensic equine 

 medicine, contagious diseases and veterinary police, literature of 

 veterinary medicine, practical exercise in the hospitals, and repeti- 

 tion of anatomy and physiology. 



The faculty consisted of five professors, receiving 2,000, 1,500, 

 1,200, and 1,000 florins each, with free lodging and other perqui- 

 sites ; also four assistants, receiving 700, 600, 500, and 400 florins. 



On the 17th of November, 1823, the corner-stone of the new 

 school was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and in the presence of 

 many of the nobility and noted personages. In this year the com- 

 mencement of a library was begun in earnest by an appropriation of 

 three thousand florins, but at the present day a yearly sum is appro- 

 priated to the purpose. In the year 1835 an institution for experi- 

 ments with reference to the variola of sheep was added to the in- 

 stitution and continued until 1864. In the year 18^9 the institution 

 was separated from the university, and has since remained indepen- 

 dent, subject to the control of the Ministry of War. In 1871 the cur- 

 riculum again suffered revision, and was placed in its present form ; 

 the purpose of the school being to educate civil and military vet- 

 erinarians, and also civil and military horseshoers ; aside from 

 this it must do its utmost to forward veterinary science, and is the 

 highest technical authority with reference to contagious animal dis- 

 eases and their suppression. The director also acts as adviser in all 

 things with reference to the military veterinary institutions at the 

 Ministry of "War. The guidance of the school is dependent upon 

 the director and the military supervisor. The latter is directly sub- 



