VETERINARY SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 
311 
father, Robert Jennings, was the first to publicly advocate 
the cause of veterinary science in this country. He was not 
a graduated veterinary surgeon, but had read medicine for 
several years, and being well posted in comparative ana¬ 
tomy, commenced in the winter of 1846 a course of veteri¬ 
nary lectures to a class of medical students in the City of 
Philadelphia, which were continued during the sessions of 
the medical colleges for several years. In 1850 he con¬ 
ceived the idea of organising a veterinary college. He made 
known his plans to Austin Miller, M.R.C.V.S., and John 
Scott, M.R.C.V.S. (the only graduated Y.S. in the city), 
both of whom regarded the movement as premature, giving 
it the cold shoulder. He now laid his scheme before Prof. 
Wm. Gibson, of the Pennsylvania Medical University, and 
Prof. James Bryan, of the Philadelphia Medical College, 
both of whom not only encouraged the measure, but per¬ 
sonally solicited and obtained the names of the following 
prominent citizens of Pennsylvania to a petition asking the 
State Legislature for an Act of Incorporation for the Vete¬ 
rinary College of Philadelphia:—Gen. George Cadwalader, 
Wm. Gibson, M.D., John Philips, M.D., Alfred L. Elwyn, 
M.D., James Bryan, M.D., Hon. Frederick Watts, Gen. 
George McKeim, James Gowan, Hon. Geo. W. W^oodward, 
Stetchley Morton, Alonzo Potter, D.D., and L. L. Ward, 
which charter was granted without delay, and duly signed 
as follows :— i( John S. Rhey, Speaker of the House of Repre¬ 
sentatives , John H. Walker, Speaker of the Senate. Ap¬ 
proved—The Fifteenth day of April, a.d. One thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-two, Wm. Bigler, Governor of the 
State of Pennsylvania This, the first veterinary college 
chartered in America, the date fully proves. Robert Jen¬ 
nings having been the recipient of an honorary diploma 
from the board of directors, was placed at the head of the 
new institution. Early in 1853 he presented the following 
as the faculty of the college:—W. W. Fraley, Prof, of 
Materia Medica and Therapeutics, T. J. Corbyn, Prof, of 
Pathology and Surgery, John Scott, M.R.C.V.S., Prof, of 
Practice of Medicine with reference to all domestic animals. 
Geo. W. Bowler, Prof, of Medical Chemistry and Phar¬ 
macy, Robt. Jennings, Prof, of Anatomy, Physiology, and 
Operative Surgery. Negotiations were entered into for the 
building of a veterinary college, the plan for which had 
been prepared by an architect, Mr. John Notman, a cousin 
of my father’s. While these negotiations were pending J)rs. 
Corbyn, Fraley, and Scott, tendered their resignations as 
members of the faculty. This was a stunning blow to the 
