VETERINARY SERVICE HAD AN EARLY ORIGIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 29, 3 May 1950, Page 4

VETERINARY SERVICE HAD AN EARLY ORIGIN

The veterinary forms an important and necesary link in New Zealand farm life but his is not a profession that has just been developed in the last few years. There was mention in Greek literature of veterinary services, and the Romans had men skilled in looking after horses, while Hannibal took 'with him across the Alps men trained in attending to his elephants. During the Dark Ages, when chalatans e bounded in all walks of life, veterinary science was kept alive only by the Arabs. Started In 1890 In New Zealand the foundations Were laid by the 1890’s by John Gilruth. As a result of his work, carried on by others, New Zealand had been kept free from the major plagues that have afflicted animals in other countries.

The service also controls the high meat export standard, while in the realm of research members of the service found that cobalt was a cure for bush-sick lands, others have carried on research in the peat lands, and some have attained world eminence in parasitology.

Under the 1946 Veterinary Services’ Act the services throughout New Zealand were given stability and a fund contributed in the proportion of Government 50 per cent, Dairy Board 33 per cent, Meat Board 16 per cent and Wool Board 1 per cent, was established for subsidising vet clubs and providing bursaries.

Circulation of daffy newspapers in the United States reached an 11time record of 52,270,000 in 1949.