I spend a lot of time at the vet. My German Shepherd/Border Collie mix, Gus, was diagnosed with diabetes last March. It has been a learning curve. Dogs are type I diabetics, thus they need insulin shots. Cats can be both, type I and II.
Anyway, sorry to digress - back to billheads. The billheads I have for veterinarians have a few commonalities - livestock graphics, i.e. horses or cows. So, cats, dogs, birds and other animals did not factor in to the early veterinary practice. Vets services were mainly advertised for farmers and businesses. Second, the majority advertise themselves as "veterinary surgeons."
Now a little history, prior to scientifically trained veterinarians, the American farmer in the later 19th century faced problems with illness among their livestock. When scourges hit, it was not uncommon to have an entire communities livestock wiped out. Thus, the American farmer resorted to relying on superstitions and what were called the "hoss" doctors or cow leechers. Just like quack human doctors, these were quack veterinarians.
As late as 1890, most locations lacked a trained veterinarian. The "hoss" doctors tended to be recruited from several sources: 1. former stable-keepers; 2. fallen horsemen - skilled coachmen; 3. at one time they worked for a practitioner who was also a part-time blacksmith, teamster, groom or ploughman.
Another group of quack veterinarians were the Veterinary Surgeons who purchased their diplomas. This group were no better than the hoss doctors or cow leechers. Most surgeons came from a rural background and had a genuine enthusiasm for animals. A few veterinary colleges in the large eastern colleges mainly trafficked in the diplomas to supplement their income. In 1877, Philadelphia was selling quack diplomas for $100. Veterinary surgeons usually were of two types: 1. ones that developed a regular community practice and 2. ones there were traveling veterinarians. The most noted traveling quack was Dr. Joseph Haas of Indianapolis. Haas' marketed his Haas' remedy to prevent livestock diseases.
The growth of the modern scientifically trained veterinarian was slow. A few hypothesis have been put forth as a caused: 1. American's dependency on English leadership when England lagged other countries in its treatment of animals; 2. the distrust of the farmer for science; 3. the tradition on relying on rural magic - old way cures; and 4. the lack of the US Government to encourage the scientific training of veterinarians.
Anyway, sorry to digress - back to billheads. The billheads I have for veterinarians have a few commonalities - livestock graphics, i.e. horses or cows. So, cats, dogs, birds and other animals did not factor in to the early veterinary practice. Vets services were mainly advertised for farmers and businesses. Second, the majority advertise themselves as "veterinary surgeons."
Now a little history, prior to scientifically trained veterinarians, the American farmer in the later 19th century faced problems with illness among their livestock. When scourges hit, it was not uncommon to have an entire communities livestock wiped out. Thus, the American farmer resorted to relying on superstitions and what were called the "hoss" doctors or cow leechers. Just like quack human doctors, these were quack veterinarians.
As late as 1890, most locations lacked a trained veterinarian. The "hoss" doctors tended to be recruited from several sources: 1. former stable-keepers; 2. fallen horsemen - skilled coachmen; 3. at one time they worked for a practitioner who was also a part-time blacksmith, teamster, groom or ploughman.
Another group of quack veterinarians were the Veterinary Surgeons who purchased their diplomas. This group were no better than the hoss doctors or cow leechers. Most surgeons came from a rural background and had a genuine enthusiasm for animals. A few veterinary colleges in the large eastern colleges mainly trafficked in the diplomas to supplement their income. In 1877, Philadelphia was selling quack diplomas for $100. Veterinary surgeons usually were of two types: 1. ones that developed a regular community practice and 2. ones there were traveling veterinarians. The most noted traveling quack was Dr. Joseph Haas of Indianapolis. Haas' marketed his Haas' remedy to prevent livestock diseases.
The growth of the modern scientifically trained veterinarian was slow. A few hypothesis have been put forth as a caused: 1. American's dependency on English leadership when England lagged other countries in its treatment of animals; 2. the distrust of the farmer for science; 3. the tradition on relying on rural magic - old way cures; and 4. the lack of the US Government to encourage the scientific training of veterinarians.
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