386 
N. H. PAAftEN 
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, we make the follow¬ 
ing brief extract (from a paper prepared by Mr. Fleming) : “In order to increase 
the property of the nation in animals, as well by securing the best breeds as by 
multiplication of numbers, and the prevention of disease, veterinary science is 
indispensable. Contagious and infectious diseases, unless checked, may destroy 
all our animals, and epidemics may produce an equal calamity if curative forces 
be not employed. Thus the food of the people, and the labor and pleasure we de¬ 
rive from horses, is jeopardized in a state which neglects to encourage veterinary 
knowledge and skill. Besides, as many of the diseases of animals are transmis- 
ible to human beings, and especially those which are eaten for food, it behooves 
the people to establish means for effectual protection, their own ignorance and 
inexperience being an insufficient safeguard. Every government in Europe ex¬ 
cept our own (the British/) has taken veterinary science under its especial care, 
and has founded schools, several on a large scale, wherein cultivated, eminent 
men teach students at the public expense, it being accepted in those countries 
that thus the public advantage is greatly promoted.” 
Has the government of the United States done anything in the way of aiding 
or encouraging instruction in the only department of knowledge that can be of 
service in warding off or curing the diseases of domestic animals ? No—abso¬ 
lutely nothing! In this country, indeed, there are few departments of know¬ 
ledge, however practical, and however directed towards the general behoof, or 
even however capable of administrating towards the immediate requirements of 
the national service, -which our government feels itself called upon to foster, at 
any time, with any special liberality. Veterinary science is in its infancy among 
us, and for the want of a sufficiently numerous membership of the veterinary pro¬ 
fession, the country has not been fortunate in gaining a knowledge of its capabil¬ 
ities. As time wears on the need of educated veterinarians will become an 
urgent necessity, as veterinary science itself has now become an essential of civil¬ 
ization. 
The time has thus unexpectedly arrived when the United States government 
must recognize veterinary science; and it is a somewhat curious incident that 
our government shall be obliged to step down and do this by the peremptory de¬ 
mand from a government which itself is blamed for the severe losses sustained 
within its dominions, from the ravages of contagious cattle diseases ; and which 
government moreover was the very last among European governments to recog¬ 
nize the importance of veterinary science. 
