2 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



the year 1616 a work was published in Venice with many 

 plates, showing that the structure of the horse was pretty 

 well understood. France took the initiative step in the 

 advancement of the veterinary art, being the first nation 

 to accord to the profession its proper status, as well as the 

 first nation to found a veterinary school, the Lyons Veteri- 

 nary College being founded in 1762 ; the present Principal 

 being Mons. A. Chauveau, whose name is a household word 

 familiar to, and respected by, every veterinarian throughout 

 the world. Four years later, in the year 1766, the Veteri- 

 nary College at Alfort was opened. Both institutions have 

 become very famous, and justly so, on account of the 

 excellence and thoroughness of their teachings, and the 

 additions to scientific knowledge given to the world thereby. 

 The veterinary art had by this time emerged from the 

 darkness and disadvantages w^hich had for centuries threat- 

 ened its extinction, was recognised and supported by the 

 Government and the people, and stepping into its proper 

 place, became recognised as one amongst the sciences. The 

 people became fully conscious of the fact that the health 

 and wealth of the nation very largelj'' depended upon the 

 character and proper observance of the teachings and 

 theories promulgated by the veterinary colleges. From this 

 time onward the rise and progress of the art was assured 

 and steady ; until at the present time it is recognised as one 

 of the foremost and most important professions in all parts 

 of the civilized world. In Britain, the art was longer 

 buried in ignorance than in the other European countries ; 

 from time to time works of more or less excellence were 

 published, which were received with varying degrees of 

 favour. 



During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Blundeville trans- 

 lated some foreign works into English ; these were followed 

 by the writings of many others, the most notable of which 



