EDITORIAL. 
271 
might correspond with each other and exchange opinions on sub¬ 
jects interesting to them, to the profession and to the country— 
so the American Veterinary Review was founded. 
Soon contagious diseases were found to have obtained a foot-hold 
on our continent; diseases of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine 
threatened not only the life of our animals but the wealth of our 
people, and of the nation. Then the veterinary sanitarian was 
called to duty. Veterinary Cattle Commissioners were appointed, 
and to-day our people are well aware of the good work that our 
friend E. E. Thayer has done in Massachusetts; and they will 
soon be able to judge of the one which is carried on now by 
Prof. James Law of Cornell University and his staff of educated 
veterinarians. Years ago none would have thought that a “ horse 
doctor ” knew anything but to bleed, to give a ball or sell some 
condition powder ; to-day we find our Agricultural Societies cal¬ 
ling upon our graduated veterinary surgeons to deliver addresses 
on the subjects pertaining to our profession. 
In the presence of these vast changes the question may arise, 
why have they taken place ? The answer is simple ; because the 
interests of the people demanded it. But this is not all; our Gen¬ 
eral Government is doing away with its farriers and horse doctors 
by requiring that hereafter appointments as Veterinary Surgeons 
in the army shall be composed of the graduates of established and 
reputable veterinary schools or colleges.* They at last realize 
what the requirements of the veterinarian are, and what may be 
expected from one, whose education has been perfected in that 
direction. 
If we say that our people only begin to realize these facts, it is 
because we do not think Americans fully appreciate them, for 
if they did, we have no doubt they would take steps to place 
veterinary science on the same footing it holds in Europe. But 
this we look upon as another crisis in the history of veterinary 
medicine in America. 
We must not ignore the fact, however, that besides the edu¬ 
cational advance made by the people, the changes which have 
* The American Veterinary Review, September number, 1879. 
