436 
APPEAL. 
knowledge of educated veterinarians enables them to protect men 
from diseases communicable from animals, by the prompt recog¬ 
nition of such diseases in the latter. 
In European countries the veterinary profession constitutes 
bodies of educated, scientific and respected professional men, 
whose fulfilled duties are a bulwark of protection to the State, a 
safeguard to the citizen, and a boon to suffering animals. 
In 1875 the American Veterinary College was chartered and 
organized for the purpose of qualifying men, by a special medi¬ 
cal education, for the practice of veterinary medicine, and, as 
stated by the New York Herald, in an editorial article of March 
25, 1887, “ it has fought its way to national reputation without 
public endorsement.” 
Twenty years ago an American veterinary profession did not 
exist; to-day, its successful national representatives are, in the 
main, alumni of the American Veterinary College. 
The evidence of the work accomplished by the College in 
the past twelve years is shown by the fact that out of not more 
than 600 veterinary surgeons qualified to practice, and holding 
diplomas as such, who are to-day practicing veterinary medicine 
in the United States, the American Veterinary College has con¬ 
tributed 236, or more than one-third. 
As to the efficiency of the alumni of the American Veter¬ 
inary College, it may be stated that out of her 236 alumni, fifty 
of them have been or are now occupying Government or State 
positions or filling professorships in agricultural and veterinary 
institutions. 
The Hospital Department of the College has within the 
past twelve years treated, in the presence of the students of the 
College, 26,800 sick animals, horses and dogs, and over 8,800 
operations have been performed. 
Free clinics have been held since 1875, to afford the poor, 
who cannot remunerate the services of a veterinary surgeon, an 
opportunity to obtain relief for their suffering animals. At these 
clinics, held twice a week throughout the year, there have been 
treated during the past twelve years over 5,000 sick animals, 
upon whom over 1,300 operations have been performed. 
