VET 



VET 



duc«d till about the clofe of the republic ; but its origin 

 may be traced to the firft dillribution which Servius TuUius 

 made of the Roman people into clafles and centuries ; under 

 which the centuria fen'wnim, or old foldiers, were appointed 

 to guard the city. They were afterwards employed to 

 guard the camp, whilft the centurie juniorum fought in the 

 field of battle. After they had ferved fome years, they 

 were called veteres, in contradiftinftion to the novitii or 

 tiroaes. In procefs of time, thofe who had ferved a certain 

 number of campaigns were called veterans, and were exempt 

 from the obligation of military fervice, except on urgent 

 occafions. See EvocATl. 



The rewards conferred on veterans were at firfh very in- 

 confiderable, e.gr. a few acres of land in a foreign country, 

 where they eftablifhcd colonies ; but at length they became 

 immenfe. Tiberius Gracchus diftributcd among them the 

 treafures of Attains, who had made the Roman people his 

 heirs. Auguitus alfo bellowed upon them pecuniary recom- 

 pence, and almoft all his fucceffors augmented their privi- 

 leges. 



In France, the term veteran is ftill retained for fuch officers 

 as have held their poll twenty years, and who enjoy certain 

 of the honours and privileges affixed thereto, even after they 

 have laid them down. 



A veteran counfellor has a voice and feat at audiences, 

 though not at proccfles by writing. A veteran fecretary 

 of the king acquires the privilege, &c. of nobility, to him- 

 felf, and his children. 



VETERINARIA, Mulo-medicika, or medicine ap- 

 plied to the difeafes of cattle. Whence, 



VETERINARIUS, a farrier, or horfe-leech. 



VETERINARY, a term applied to and fignifying 

 that part or department of cattle-medicine, which relates to 

 the treatment and cure of morbid animals of the domeftic 

 kind. 



Veterinary College, an inftitulion firil ellablifhed, in 

 this country, in the year 1792, at St. Pancras, in the vici- 

 nity of the metropolis. It is ftated in " Boardman's Dic- 

 tionary of the Veterinary Art," that the public-are indebted 

 for this truly national foundation to the humanity, difcern- 

 ment, and patriotic exertions of a country agricultural 

 fociety, that of Odiham, in Hamplhire ; and that the firft 

 profeflbr of it was a Frenchman of the name of St. Bel, 

 who had previoufly diftinguifhed himfelf as a veterinary 

 anatomift and writer in this country, by diffefting and de- 

 fcribing different parts of the famous race-horfe Eclipfe, fo 

 much known and admired for his fwiftnefs. 



It is added, that the college is fupported by public fub- 

 fcription ; that the annual contribution is two guineas, but 

 the payment of twenty guineas at one time conftitutcs a fub- 

 fcriber for hfe. In fome recent inftances, too, the inftitu- 

 tion has fhared, it is faid, the bounty of parhament ; an 

 important faving having refulted to the nation from the ap- 

 pointment of veterinary furgeons to the different regiments 

 of Britifh cavalry, in confequcnce of it. 



The different views and objetts of the college or eftablifh- 

 ment appear in the (latement, printed by the authority of 

 the governors, and given below. 



It is faid, that the grand objeft is the improvement of 

 veterinary knowledge, in order to remedy and obviate the 

 ignorance and incompetency of farriers, fo long and fo uni- 

 verfally complained of. For this end, a range of flables, a 

 forge, a theatre for diffeclions and leftures, with other ne- 

 ceftary buildings, have been eredled ; and a gentleman, pro- 

 perly qualified for the purpofe, has been appointed profefFor, 

 witli other requifite officers. 



The anatomical llrutlure of quadrupeds and other ani- 



mals, fuch as horfes, cattle, Iheep, dogs, and others, the 

 difeates to which they are fubjeft, and the remedies pro- 

 per to be applied, are inveftigated and regularly taught ; 

 by which means, enlightened practitioners of liberal educa- 

 tion, whofe whole fludy has been direfted and devoted 

 to the veterinary art in all its branches, may be gradually 

 prepared, provided, and difperfed over the whole kingdom, 

 on whofe flcill and experience confidence may be fecurely 

 placed. 



That the pupils to the college, in addition to the leftures 

 and inftruftions of the profefTor, and the praftice of the 

 flables, at the prefent enjoy, in cor.fequence of the great 

 liberality of fome of the moft eminent of the faculty of 

 medicine in London, the advantage of free admilfion to 

 their medical and anatomical lectures. Thefe pupils, pre- 

 vious to leaving the college, are ftriftly examined by a 

 medical committee, from whom they receive a proper certi- 

 ficate ; and feveral, examined and approved, have, it is faid, 

 already left the college, and are at this time praclifing in 

 voi-ious parts of the country with great iuccefs. 



That fubfcribers have the privilege of fending their dif- 

 eafed animals to the college, without further expence than 

 that of their daily food ; and that thefe, in general, form a 

 fufficient number of objecls for the praftice of the profefTor 

 and pupils to be tried and exerc'ifed upon. That on fixed 

 days, the profefFor prefcribes for animals belonging to fub- 

 fcribers, who find it inconvenient to fpare them from home, 

 proi-ided the neceffary medicines be furmfhed and com- 

 pounded at the college. Subfcribers' horfes are there alfo 

 fhod at the ordinary price, and new improved modes of 

 fhoeing praftifed in different cafes. 



And that his royal highnefs the commander-in-chief 

 having been pleafed to appoint a board of general officers to 

 take into confideration the objefts of this inflitution, they 

 have reported the continual lofs of cavalry to have been 

 very heavy, in confequence of the almoft total ignorance of 

 thofe who have hitherto had the veterinary department in 

 tlic army. This report his majefty has approved ; and 

 henceforward, to qualify for the military fervice, a veteri- 

 nary furgeon muft be provided with a regular diploma from 

 the college. A number of gentlemen, fubfcribers to the 

 inflitution, attend once a fortnight, for the purpofe of in- 

 fpefting the difciphne of the ftables, and feeing that the 

 regulations are duly complied with. 



Thefe form the moft material objecls and regulations of 

 the eftablithment ; from which it is evident, that it is capable 

 of being of great ufe and advantage, if properly direfted, 

 and confined to the points which it has principally in view. 



VETERNA, in Geography, a town of European 

 Turkey, in Bulgaria ; 9 miles S.W. of Driftra. 



VETERNITZA, a river of Servia, which rifes in the 

 Karadagh mountain, and runs into the Morava. 



VETERNUS is ufed, by fome phyficians, for a le- 

 thargy, or other drowfy difeafe. 



VETERSEN, in Geography, a town of the duchy of 

 Holftein ; ij miles N.W. of Hamburgh. 



VETIL, Neper, a town of Sweden, in the province of 

 Wafa ; 16 miles E. of Jacobftadt. 



Vetil, Of-ver, a town of Sweden, in the province of 

 AVafa ; 32 miles E.S.E. of Jacobftadt. 



VETINA, in ^Indent Geography, a town of Italy, in 

 Magna Grascia, fuppofed to lie between Sybaris and Meta- 

 ponlum ; but its exact fituation is not known. 



VETITUM Namium, in Laiv, imports a forbidden 

 diftrefs. See Namium. 



VETITZA, ill Geograplyy, a river of Walachia, which 

 runs into the Kotmana, 10 miles N. of Rufci. 



VETLI- 



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