586 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



best we now possess of hygiene and the care of the sick and injured. In 

 like manner the best we know of the nature;, care and protection of ani- 

 mals has been derived from the study of the same group of sciences, 

 which are those that make up the veterinary curriculum. We must re- 

 member, however, that the care of animals, like that of children, will 

 be guided by the knowledge of those who have them in charge. The 

 task, therefore, is to provide adequate means for ascertaining the na- 

 ture of the different species and their physiological needs and to have 

 this knowledge made available for and acquired by the owners and care- 

 takers of animals. 



The work that is being done in the state experiment stations and 

 agricultural colleges in testing various kinds of forage and food ra- 

 tions is bringing into practical form the results obtained by chemists 

 and physiologists relative to the nutritive needs of different animals. 

 These same institutions are investigating the questions of ventilation, 

 stabling, exercise and other topics pertaining to the best possible care 

 of the healthy animal. 



The results of these experiments are published in bulletins for free 

 distribution. Consequently it is possible for all animal owners to profit 

 by the findings. 



With animals, as with man, it is the sick and injured that suffer 

 most in the absence of skilled attendants. This fact was observed by 

 Claude Bourgelat who in 1762 established the first veterinary college 

 in the world at Lyons, France. He recognized the need of men trained 

 in the care of injured and diseased horses in the cavalry. He believed 

 that men could be educated in these lines and that a new profession could 

 be developed for the purpose of caring for afflicted animals. A little 

 later there was established a second veterinary school at Alfort with 

 the additional purpose of studying methods to prevent the epizootic dis- 

 eases that were devastating the animal world. Then other schools 

 arose until a large number of well-equipped veterinary colleges were 

 established in Europe. In this country there are now twenty-one veteri- 

 nary colleges, of which seven receive state support. 



In 1884 the Bureau of Animal Industry was established in the 

 United States Department of Agriculture for researches into the na- 

 ture of animal diseases. Again, state boards of healtli and live stock 

 sanitary boards are studying the same subjects. Thus we have in this 

 country institutions to inquire into the nature of the diseases of ani- 

 mals for tlie purpose of devising methods for preventing them and 

 veterinary colleges to teach men how to treat and to care for the sick 

 and injured. The value of veterinary colleges in this connection is just 

 beginning to be recognized. Until recently little money was available 

 for this purpose and consequently the work was restricted to the teach- 

 ing of veterinary medicine and sursjerv in a verv narrow sense. Dur- 



