6 
though American Citizen would have been better qualified for the task, but if I cannot 
do justice to the subject as it deserves, I can vouch for the exactitude of many parts 
of it of the last 40 years, I feel in presenting you with these remarks, that I lay the 
foundation for a better history, to be written when our profession will occupy amongst 
Americans the place where it ought to be —second to none. 
For much information which I will present you, I am indebted to the kindness 
of many amongst you : for much, I have carefully looked into periodicals, agricultural, 
scientific and even sporting papers: for many facts of the last sixteen years' I can 
knowingly speak as I have been connected with all more or less; a fact which may oblige 
me to mention my name more than I would like to, and for which I beforehand must 
beg your pardon for fear of being accused of egotism. 
As in the Old World it may be said that in the U. S., Veterinary science was first 
left in the darkness of the old days, and curiously enough, that though with the oppor¬ 
tunity of the experience of the Old Continent, America has not from the day of her 
Independence until late years taken any serious interest in the welfare of her domestic 
animals. She has spared nothing to improve her breed of horses whose speed is superior 
to any in the world. To improve her cattle, her sheep, her swine, she has borrowed from 
Europe, what she has been unable to find at home. But up to late years, relating to 
Veterinary cares nothing is to be found in any of the agricultural or sporting papers, 
with the exception only of a few prescriptions of more or less value, of more or less 
originality. 
Indeed scarcely can the word \ eterinary be found in print, and many of us remem¬ 
ber having seen it spelled wrong, even by men who claimed to be regular members of 
the profession. 
On inquiries made to the Agricultural Department in Washington, I am informed 
that beyond a number of works on Veterinary Science many of which I know to be of 
European origin, there is nothing in the archives of the Department referring to the 
practice of Veterinary Medicine or its standing in the Country. 
In the work written by C. L. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture of Mass¬ 
achusetts, published in 1864, and called “Eighty years progress,” we find that taking 
from the Revolutionary War to the great Rebellion every branch, science and 
art is treated, and all steps toward improvement are carefully noticed. Agriculture of 
course occupies an important place, and though it shows us all the improvements made 
on horses, on -cattle, on sheep and on swine, not a word is said of the most important 
branch of agriculture, not a word is said of Veterinary cares beyond the citing of publi¬ 
cations of a few works such as the Modern Horse Doctor of Dadd, sold at no less than 
20,000 copies—of Youatt and Martin on cattle, of which 10,000 copies were disposed 
of in the United States, and of Youatt on the horse, of which 23,000 have been thrown 
all over the Continent; we all know the value of these works. 
Sixty years ago New York City, then a small town, had no Veterinary practitioners. 
It is only about ten years after that John Rose, a graduate of Prussia came, established 
himself, and in a short time commanded a large practice—some ten years later however 
he was followed by C. C. Grice a graduate of London of 1S26; then came R. Id. Curtis, 
A. Lockhart, R. II. Budd, C. Pilgrim, all M. R. C. V. S. L., all of which maybe called 
the pioneers of Veterinary Medicine in New York State. R. Id. Budd who landed in 
1831 combined the horse shoeing business with his practice; he left a little work called 
Practical d reatise on diseases of the foot—a work which had not only a good publica¬ 
tion in England but reached in New York a second edition, and which contains many 
good points for the time it was written—nay, for our days. * 
