History of Veterinary Medicine

Ancient Documents:

Code of Hammurabi –2250 B.C. Papyrus of Kahun – 1900 B.C. India –1900 to 1200 B.C. Ancient Greece – “Horse Doctor” Ancient Roman Empire - <200 B.C.

Through The Ages:

First Century Rome Origin of the modern veterinary hospital First mention of “germ theory” First reference to disease control

Byzantine Empire – 4th Century Hippiatrika Fundamental understanding of animal

disease Fall of Roman Empire – Beginning of

DARK AGES – Veterinarian’s disappeared

18th and 19th Century

Revival of Veterinary Medicine Savage surgery! Dr. Michael Harward

Intestinal surgery James Clark

Humane treatment

Pulse diagnosis

Beginning of ModernVeterinary Science 1598 Publication of Anatomy of Horse 1817 Dr. Delabere Blaine – Father of

first Veterinary specialty 1850 – America had only about 15

graduate veterinarians 1870’s Veterinary education in U.S.

begins

1884 Bureau of Animal Industry was formed

First Veterinary schools in U.S. were private and dominated by financial interests.

40 schools started in 1800’s – 1913; all had closed by 1924

First state supported school in 1879 Over next 30 years, nine more started From 1944 to 1957 eight more schools

founded – including UCD

R.V.T. History

1961 First US program - New York 1972 CRC Program – First West of

Rockies 1973 AVMA Begins evaluation and

accreditation of schools 1974 CRC First West of Mississippi to

be accredited

1975 California offers certification exam for first time.

1982 “Job Tasks” defined Presently 103 AVMA accredited

schools in 38 states