Learning from the past

Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS/AVMA, 2024-2025 president-elect, addressing attendees during his keynote address at Fetch Kansas City

When the history of the world and medicine is discussed, it could be rare for people to mention animal health care, even though veterinary medicine is intertwined with history and crucial events throughout the world. Winston Churchill once said Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, but what about those who fail to learn from history do not understand their capabilities?

During his Day 1 keynote address, “The History of Veterinary Medicine: A Rich Past, a More Prosperous Future,” Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS/AVMA, 2024-2025 president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, took attendees back in time to show them how veterinary medicine is one of the oldest professions in the world, and how understanding the history of animal care work can help create a better future.

The beginning

According to Bailey, the profession officially began with the founding of the veterinary school in Lyon, France, by Claude Bourgelat in 1761. However, Bailey shared with the audience that the veterinary profession has been around since ancient civilizations. As these civilizations began to grow intellectually and physically, imperialism, architecture, and a need for human and veterinary care emerged.

In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia for example, both societies noticed that animals were valuable for transportation, agriculture, and companionship, leading them to create medical practices to care for these animals. Texts from the time indicate that they were treating livestock using herb prescriptions and even medical procedures. The Mesopotamian goddess Gula, known as The Great Physician, was portrayed as a divine physician and midwife, according to Bailey. A sculpture of Gula was created, which featured her dog as well. The first veterinarian is said to be a Sumerian doctor named Urlugaledinna, who lived in modern-day Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Kuwait. He was known to be an expert and healing animals

The Shalihotra Samhita, which is from the time of Ashoka in 3000-2000 BC Indian veterinary treatise, is known as an early veterinary treatise. Bailey discussed the edicts of Asoka, which stated that 2 different kinds of medicine were available: medicine for people and medicine for animals. When no healing herbs or people were available, he ordered they be planted.

The middle

Although not the beginning of veterinary medicine, the veterinary college founded by Bourgelat was the first of its kind. He was inspired to create the college after the devastation being caused in French herds by the cattle plague and then devoted his time to finding a remedy. Closely behind his college is the Odiham Agricultural Society, which was founded in England in 1783, becoming the foundation of the veterinary profession in Britain.

In 1853, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)College of Veterinary Medicine was founded on August 17, 1853, by President Antonio López de Santa Anna, marking the beginning of veterinary medicine education in Mexico and the American continent. A little over 10 years later, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act into law. Other advancements came when Iowa designated the State Agricultural College, now known as Iowa State University, as the land grant college in 1864, and The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) proposed that veterinary medicine be taught at the school. However, it was not until UPenn university trustees donated $10,000 to establish the veterinary school in 1882, which would be a little shy of $250,000 today.

“The medical school there saw the importance of having human medicine and veterinary medicine combined. So it is a combined human veterinary program at this particular time. So, one health, again, recognized early on, seemed to bring it back and use it to bring it back,” said Bailey.

President Woodrow Wilson and Congress passed the Defense Act of 1916, creating the Veterinary Corps within the United States Army. Bailey informed attendees that each World War saw the expansion of veterinary medicine in areas we recognize today as One Health.

“We have veterinarians involved in the care of our troops. I told my sons in the reserves, we have many wonderful entities in reserves to take care of soldiers when they are hurt, but veterinarians take care of soldiers, sailors, airmen, whoever they may be, hopefully before they ever get hurt. And if they do not have healthy food, they cannot go to where battle or whatever it is, they need to be taken care of. So guess what? Veterinarians are more important than the [human doctors],” Bailey expressed.

The present

Veterinary medicine has been linked to human medicine in ways veterinary professionals may not know. Bailey shared with attendees that a human medical first, FDA-clearing Robodoc in 1992, was built, designed, and programmed by a veterinarian, Hap Paul, DVM, and his team. Bailey closed his lecture by saying that by recognizing those who have built and sacrificed within the profession before professionals today established the foundation.

“We have a deep source. We have deep roots. I hope I've given you an idea of how important veterinary medicine is to the world, and our history, and without us, we need to get more people involved. So you see your future. Do you see our future, our profession[s]? Do you wonder what lies? I wonder. All I know is we work together, [and] we have such a wonderful profession,” Bailey concluded his lecture.

Reference

Bailey M. The History of Veterinary Medicine: A Rich Past, a More Prosperous Future. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; August 23-25, 2024; Kansas City, MO.