IRISH CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 157 
Columella, in ‘ Scriptores rei Rustica,’ treats of the diseases of 
sheep at some length, describing a pustular affection by the name of 
“ignis sacer.” 
Vegetius, who lived about the middle of the fourth century, 
seems to have had considerable experience among horses, and some 
of his remarks show him to have been a very close observer, how- 
ever much his practice was faulty. 
The incursions of the barbarians later seem to have swept away 
all other records that might have existed, and it is not till the six- 
teenth century that we find any works treating on veterinary 
medicine. In Venice, a valuable work was published by Ricini, the 
plates of which were copied by many succeeding writers on anatomy. 
In England we had Gervase Markham, who was an acute observer 
of the habits of domestic animals, and although his practice was 
absurd, his medical knowledge was on a par with the physicians, 
chirurgeons, and apothecaries of the sister art, w hom we find dis- 
mayed and perplexed, surrounding the deathbed of Prince Henry, 
eldest son of James 1, and driven, as a last resource, to the applica- 
tion of a cock cloven by the back to the soles of the feet. 
In 1/61 the first step towards putting the science on a proper 
footing w r as taken by the establishment of the Veterinary College at 
Lyons, followed in 1 766 by the institution of the College at Alfort, 
which, from that time to the present, has held a prominent position, 
enjoying a European celebrity from the discoveries emanating 
from its walls, and the knowledge and character of its professors, 
and the skill of the men who have passed out, gained, however, at a 
frightful and unnecessary cost of suffering to the unfortunate 
animals. Vivisection, though not done away with, is, I believe 
since the time I w*as there, restricted to narrower dimensions, thanks 
to the praiseworthy efforts of the Royal Society in England, and the 
support which the Emperor afforded them. 
1791, Mr. St. Bel, who had previously been educated at Alfort, 
established the London College, in spite of much opposition. He 
was succeeded by Moorcroft, and after him by Coleman, whose 
theories have not been attended in practice with the success that 
w r as anticipated at the time of their enunciation, though by his elo- 
quence, and the assistance he received from Sir Astley Cooper and 
Hunter, he did much towards bringing the science into note, and 
raising the standard of examination. A crowd of authors followed, 
one of the most illustrious among them being Mr. Percivall. 
In 1810, Mr. Dick, who had received his professional education 
under Professor Coleman, started the Edinburgh College, and w ? as 
followed later by Mr. M'Call, at Glasgow. How r ever much the 
institutions may disagree on minor questions, they all agree in their 
efforts at imparting a sound professional education. As a rule, 
pupils enter after an apprenticeship of three years* or so with some 
established member of the profession, during which time they be- 
come acquainted with various forms of disease and the habits of the 
* This is not compulsory, but I think I may safely say a considerable 
portion do so. 
