338 BRIEF HISTORY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



ous forms of disease to which domestic animals were subject 

 and the modus operandi of treatment. 



This novel enterprise of France was regarded with a watch- 

 ful eye by the other nations of Europe, and they were not long 

 in adopting similar schools. Such schools rapidly sprang up in 

 Holland, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stuttgart, and various other 

 places, rivaling in successful and beneficial results the schools 

 of France. It was not until 1792, however, that England was 

 awakened to the importance of this subject, and then her atten- 

 tion was first called to the same by a Frenchman by the name 

 of St. Bel, who carried letters of introduction from some of the 

 first and most influential men of France regarding his mission, 

 which was that of establishing this veterinary science, then un- 

 known and of course unappreciated in the British domains. 



This St. Bel labored hard and unceasingly with the English 

 public for the period of upwards of two years before being 

 able to successfully present his claims for this science and im- 

 press upon the people the importance of establishing veterinary 

 schools and colleges for its teaching. The final result of his 

 labors was the establishing of the Yeterinary School of London 

 in 1795, of which St. Bel was appointed professor. 



Unfortunately, after all his trials and struggles in his 

 efforts to accomplish so much for England and his beloved 

 science, he had occupied the professor's chair scarcely one year, 

 when a sudden and brief illness terminated his mortal career ; 

 and he was consigned to the silent tomb before the laurels to 

 which he was so justly entitled had encircled his brow. 



The college, however, was left in a flourishing condition, 

 (the Duke of Northumberland having already contributed a 

 sum equal in currency to $2,500), and the enterprise numbered 

 among its staunch supporters such men as the Earl of Gros- 

 venor, Mr. Penn, Earl of Morton, Drs. John Hunter and Craw- 

 ford, and, subsequently, that great surgeon and medical scien- 

 tist, Sir Astley Cooper. 



Medical men hailed. this new enterprise as one not only cal- 

 culated to ameliorate the condition of suffering domestic 



