OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 11 
A BATTLER AGAINST THE WHITE PLAGUE 
1. One of the foremost forces in the upbuilding of the vet- 
erinary profession in the eastern United States was Dr. LEONARD 
Pearson, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the 
University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pearson was born in Evans- 
ville, Ind., August 17, 1868. Much of his early education came 
from the home instruction of his mother, and in 1888 he received 
the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Cornell 
University. Two years later he earned his D. V. M. from the 
University of Pennsylvania, and then went abroad to attend 
lectures in the veterinary schools of Berlin and Dresden. He 
studied bacteriology in Koch’s Laboratory where he became inter- 
ested in tuberculosis, and was permitted the facilities of the 
laboratory of the veterinary division of the German Army. On 
his return he was made assistant professor of medicine in the 
veterinary department of the University of Pennsylvania, and 
three years later he was promoted to full professor. In 1897 
he was elected Dean of the school. 
Dr. PEARSON was appointed state veterinarian in 1896 and 
served continuously in that capacity until his death. It was 
through his efforts that the Livestock Sanitary Board of Penn- 
sylvania was organized. He reorganized the veterinary school 
at the University of Pennsylvania and secured the new buildings 
and equipment, which are undoubtedly the best in the country. 
In addition, he procured a farm for experimental work in con- 
nection with animal diseases. 
Dr. PEARSON was a recognized leader in the control of in- 
fectious diseases. He was the first in America to use tuberculin 
for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle. His investigations 
on bovine tuberculosis were extensive and most valuable, and 
