DOSE GLASS COLLECTOR

Today, most of us think of veterinarians as caring physicians and surgeons to pampered pets and companion animals, especially our beloved dogs and cats.  But, earlier veterinarians had a different focus.  Around the turn-of-the-last century, when roughly half of the population of the US was involved in agriculture, veterinarians were more associated with the care and health of farm animals and work animals.

Livestock was raised for eggs, meat, dairy products, and wool.  Other farm animals were employed as a means of labor-- especially oxen, horses and mules.  Before trucks, tractors and mechanized equipment,  beasts of burden pulled agricultural implements, plowed or tilled fields, turned mills to grind grain into meal and flour, cleared land for planting, hauled wagons and even river barges loaded with goods to bring products to market. 

Before cars became prevalent, animals where a chief means of transportation in rural, farm and city settings. There were horse-drawn buggies, carts, wagons, trams and trolleys. Even fire engines were pulled to burning blazes by a team of horses.  This group of animals were patients of the Victorian veterinarian, as well. 

As you can imagine, veterinary care was of significant importance when animals were acting as vital partners in the cultivation of human civilization and maintenance of our forward progress.  But, it was a dirty job.  Animals, crucial as they were, were also believed to be a source of filth and disease. The people that worked with these "foul creatures" were sometimes looked down upon.  For this and other reasons, the term "horse doctor" had a negative connotation and was even considered an insult in some circles.

An editorial written in the May 1967 issue of the Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Science, puts it this way...

"Until the end of the last World War, the term 'horse doctor' was often used to convey a meaning of something less than complimentary to the veterinary profession. With some notable exceptions, veterinarians engaged in horse practice were not held in high esteem by the public. The popular conception of 'old Doc Smith', while one of kindness and sympathy, represented a somewhat unkempt figure, whose scope of professional ability was shrouded in ancient nostrums and potions, smelly liniments, and secret formulas."

From the Iowa Veterinary School website:  

"Most farmers felt they knew as much as the veterinarian and practiced a great deal of self-help medicine on their animals. A veterinary license was not needed until the turn of the century; until that time the vet competed with the farmer and any “quack” medicine a patent company chose to put out.  The vet himself often developed his own specific formulas for medicines and acted as his own drug store. Balance scales, mortars, and apothecary bottles were standard equipment for the veterinary clinic."

Since that time, veterinarians and their reputations have come a long way.  The accomplishments of this now respected profession have been great for both man and beast. 

Roger Ross, DVM on his website animalpetdoctor.homestead.com talks about the history of veterinary science.  He also tells of the achievements that veterinary medicine has made to both animal health and human health over the years.  He says,

"many veterinarians were involved in figuring out and controlling those diseases that affect humans and our food supply.  Veterinarians have been involved with experimental medicine and surgery throughout the 1900's. Veterinarians are the vanguard of our modern food inspection services.  They have been instrumental in the development of organ transplantation, transgenics, and almost every other important medical development...  When one looks at all of the contributions that have been made to our society by the veterinary profession, it quickly becomes obvious that those contributions touch almost every aspect of our lives and that our lives have been improved by those contributions... Imagine the miracles to come."

This article was inspired by the following recently acquired vet related dose glasses, back from the days of "potions, smelly liniments, and secret formulas."  B.E. Reeves was listed at 1072 Q in the 1912 Lincoln, NE City Directory and identified as a Veterinary Surgeon.  He was also mentioned in the 1901 Biennial Report from Nebraska's Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings as providing "services of stallion" for the price of $8.