AT COPENHAGEN. 
551 
In the course of that year, a seemingly infectious disease ap¬ 
peared in the royal stables, and carried off the greater part of 
the horses. Abildgaard was consulted. He recognised a species 
of acute inflammation of the lungs; and by some simple reme¬ 
dies, as a change of food, and copious bleedings, he cured 
many of those that had been attacked, and preserved the rest 
from becoming diseased; and in despite of the farriers,, who 
crossed him at every step, and predicted that his violent treat¬ 
ment would cause abortion in all the valuable brood-mares, he 
chased every vestige of disease from the stables. 
After success so complete, the establishment of a veterinary 
school was finally determined on, and M. Abildgaard was ordered 
to carry the plan into- execution. The treasury, however, was 
poor, and the money was not forthcoming; but this public- 
spirited individual, roused once more to the pursuit of his 
favourite object, was nothing daunted. He purchased, at his 
own expense, certain buildings, as convenient for the purpose as 
he could procure them. He fitted them up as an infirmary, and 
commenced a course of veterinary lectures. A very insuffi¬ 
cient salary was allowed him by government, and clogged with 
the appointment of two directors, under whose control he was, 
in a manner, placed. Still he was not discouraged, although it 
was evident that his interest was least of all consulted, for the 
expense was thrown upon him, and the remuneration was most 
inadequate. He cheered himself with the hope, that, when time 
had demonstrated the utility of the establishment, his labours 
would be held in due estimation; and in the course of the same 
year he purchased the extensive plot of ground on which the 
veterinary school is now erected, and built hospitals, and dis¬ 
secting rooms, and theatres, and every thing necessary and orna¬ 
mental connected with such an establishment; and when lie took 
possession of that which was in every sense his, he had twenty 
pupils, beside the farriers and grooms of the king. 
The first examination took place on the 15th of February 1775, 
when twelve students were deemed worthy to obtain a diploma. 
In 1776, two new directors were added to the former, and they 
presented a memorial to the king, stating that the school would 
become more useful, if a greater number of the pupils could be 
lodged within its walls, in order to attend on the practice of the 
hospital, and to be always present at the demonstrations. Cham¬ 
bers for the pupils, and additional stables for the horses, w ere 
accordingly erected, and an annual income appointed for the 
support of the institution, the greater part of w hich was ordered 
to be contributed by the different cavalry regiments, who would 
hereafter enjoy the advantage of having well-instructed veterina- 
