Seasons greetings
Wishing all our followers a fun filled festive season.
Archive for year: 2014
The 1881 list of ‘Existing Practitioners’
In the summer, with the help of our intern Josh, we were able to sort the bundles of applications for entry on the List of Existing Practitioners which were submitted to the RCVS in 1882. The List of Existing Practitioners came into being as a result of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1881. The introduction to the […]
Indian materia medica
In Volume 5 of The quarterly journal of veterinary science in India, published in 1887, there is a two part article by T J Symonds ‘Illustrations of Indian materia medica’. Thomas J Symonds (?-1892) graduated from the London Veterinary College in December 1870. He entered the Army Veterinary Department in March 1871 and served in the Afghan War […]
A time for reflection: Lieutenant Vincent Fox
Last Friday the Royal College was delighted to accept a portrait of Lieutenant Vincent Fox from his great grand-nephew. Vincent Fox was killed in action on the 26 August 1914: the first member of the RCVS to die during World War 1. His obituary in the Veterinary Record 3 October 1914, simply read: Vincent Fox, MRCVS, […]
10th International Veterinary Congress: a case of unfortunate timing
At 11pm on 4th August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. That same evening at the Natural History Museum 300 guests were gathered for the conversazione and reception of the 10th International Veterinary Congress. A Congress that had been many years in the planning …. London had been chosen as the venue for the 10th […]
Strickland Freeman’s observations on the horses foot
Our historical collection has over two hundred books on farriery and horse shoeing many of which contain anatomical drawings of the foot of the horse. One such book is Strickland Freeman’s Observations on the mechanism of the horse’s foot its natural spring explained, and a mode of shoeing recommended, by which the foot is defended […]
Robert Stordy’s extraordinary journey
We are delighted to announce the publication of a new book: Robert Stordy in Abyssinia: an extraordinary veterinary surgeon The main body of book is an account of an extraordinary journey made by Robert Stordy which is held in our archives. Stordy worked for the colonial veterinary service in British East Africa; in 1911 he decided […]
Looking forwards, looking back – a Beaumont connection
In the grounds of Beaumont Estate, Windsor, now a hotel & conference centre where EBVM 2014 will be held on 23-24 October, is an imposing war memorial designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott . The memorial, unveiled in November 1921, commemorates pupils of Beaumont College – the Jesuit School which operated on the site until […]
Eclipse and his ‘equine bumps’
In January 1828 the first two British veterinary journals started, these were The Veterinarian and the much shorter lived Farrier and naturalist. Both owed their origins to a desire to comment, and pass critical judgement, on the state of affairs at the London veterinary college. The Farrier and naturalist is generally believed to be the […]
WAHVM Congress 2014
Readers of this blog with an interest in veterinary history might like to know about the 41st Congress of the World Association for the History of Veterinary Medicine, hosted by the Veterinary History Society at Imperial College, London from 10-13 September 2014. This event, which is being held in Britain for the first time, will welcome speakers from […]
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