31ST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE HISTORY
OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC, SEPTEMBER 6-10, 2000
ABSTRACTS
GENETICS APPLIED TO ANIMAL BREEDING AND DISEASE CONTROL
Animal breeding and disease control in the context of the origin and development of genetics
V. Orel
Genetics applied to animal breeding and disease control: progress since 1950
G. Simm, Haja Kadarmideen, Jenie Pryce, S. Bishop, S. Lowden
An outline of heredity as seen by the XIXth century French zootechnicians
B. Denis
Genetics in veterinary medicine: present and future perspectives
P. Horín, J. Rubeš
Relations between genetic change and infectious disease in domestic livestock
P.W. Knap, S.C. Bishop
History of selection on health in livestock in the Netherlands
A.H. Visscher, J.K. Oldenbroek
Historic evolution of the genetic teaching in the older Spanish veterinary schools
J.M. Pérez Garcia, Maria Castańo, Ana Rodríguez, M. Rodríguez
Official veterinarians and breeding - the development in Bavaria since 1900
R. Grimm
The Dutch museum "Animal breeding and AI"
J.A.H. van Lieshout, C.M.T. Willems
The role of Professor Dr h.c. F.B. Hutt in the renewal of genetics in veterinary medicine in Brno
R. Böhm, J. Šindlár
WOMEN IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
Gender and veterinary medicine: global historical perspectives
Susan D. Jones
Feminisation of veterinary medicine in the Netherlands 1925-2000
P.A. Koolmees
Women from Ukraine in veterinary medicine - the first female step in the world of higher veterinary education
S.K. Rudik, O.L. Manuylenko
The presence of women in the Spanish veterinary schools
Maria Castańo, Ana Rodríguez, J.M. Pérez Garcia, M. Rodríguez
Margaret Sloss: the first woman to graduate from the nation's oldest veterinary school
O.H.V. Stalheim
Helena Bujwid-Jurgielewiczowa, the first woman graduated in Poland from veterinary medicine
G. Jakubik
African veterinarians: the female perspective
Katinka de Balogh
MISCELLANEOUS
History of the veterinary anatomical nomenclature
O. Schaller
Notes on the development of the concept of zoonosis
A. Mantovani
Archives of the Hungarian veterinary university
J. Kováts
A biographical register of Swedish veterinarians
Barbro Hellgren
On the peerage of Ignaz Josef Pessina von Czechorod
Christina Mache, Ch. Stanek
A contribution to the History of glanders at the Veterinary university Brno
L. Pospíšil
Prof. Dr. Karol Fried - the founder of veterinary historiography in the Slovak Republic
J. Jantošovic, J. Pokorný, M. Kozák, V. Vrabec
Professor Peter Jessen and the cattle plague
E. Ernits
The art of biography: Henrik J. Stafseth
O.H.V. Stalheim
History of archaeo-osteology at University of veterinary and pharmaceutical sciences Brno
V. Páral
Professor Jan Becka and still useful magnesium research from thirties
J. Hlásný
Participations of Czech veterinarians in programmes of WHO
Z. Matyáš, J. Kolár, O. Matouch
60 years of the veterinary laboratory diagnostics in Slovakia
K. Bolecek
Mendelism in animal breeding as developed by prof. Leopold Frateur, Louvain (1877-1946)
A. Gobin
VIDEO PRESENTATION
Professor František Král and the beginnings of the scientific cinematography in Brno
P. Knáva
The veterinary films of František Král as the films educational and scientific & researchal
Z. Smejkal
The Association of Women Veterinarians, 50 years of grit, grace, gumption and good humor
Susan D. Jones
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
The general aspects of decreasing of cows leucosis in Latvia
Aleksandra Petrova, A. Jemeljanovs, J. Bluzmanis
Health heredity control in livestock in the Czech Republic
Jaromíra Ondrášková, J. Slapnicka
Molecular cytogenetics of domestic animals
J. Rubeš, Petra Musilová, Miluše Vozdová, Svatava Kubícková, Olga Rezácová, Dagmar Zudová, Halina Cernohorská
Slovak women and veterinary medicine
J. Jantošovic, J. Sokol, J. Pokorný, Gabriela Sabolová, V. Vrabec
Development of the Czech woman veterinary staff - from zero to 46 per cent
J. Kábrt
Who was Olga Borisovna Lepeshinskaya?
Šárka Hejlová
Data regarding the incidence of trichinellosis in Romania until 1940
D. Curca
First observations on monodactylism (syndactylism) in swine made by Prof. Ch. Vasilescu between 1890-1894
D. Curca
H. Vasiliu first Romanian scientist, previously signalled the helical structure of protein
D. Curca
Prof. Dr. Pavel Adami - life and work
Š. Filo, Gabriela Sabolová
Prof. Dr. František Hutyra was born 140 years ago
J. Jantošovic, J. Pokorný, M. Kozák, V. Vrabec
The past and present of canine rabies in the Mediterranean basin
Elisabetta Lasagna, A. Mantovani, R. Marabelli
Scientific activities of Czechoslovak army veterinary corps
O. Pawel
The fate of the Experimental and SPF-chicken/hens Veterinary and Agricultural Department of the Humboldt-University at Berlin after the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany
H. Kobilke
Early small animal veterinary instruments
J. Broberg
Collection of animal pathogenic microorganisms (CAPM)
L. Valícek, V. Pleva
Goethe the anatomist - his role in the establishment of the veterinary school in Jena
H.E. König, C. Cervený, Eva Polsterer
50th anniversary of Czech journal Veterinarstvi
M. Treu, Hana Žertová
Female veterinarians - who was the first?
I. Katic
The films in the collection of the Veterinary museum in Brno
J. Šindlár
Official veterinarians and breeding in Bohemia and Moravia in the first half of the 20th century
J. Šindlár
The immediate participation of Gregor Mendel in the animal breeding administration in Moravia
J. Šindlár
Prof. Dr. Jan Kolda, Founder of the Czech Veterinary Morphology - 105th Anniversary
C. Cervený, F. Tichý, I. Míšek
ABSTRACTS
GENETICS APPLIED TO ANIMAL BREEDING AND DISEASE CONTROL
ANIMAL BREEDING AND DISEASE CONTROL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF GENETICS
Vítezslav Orel
Barvicova 51, CZ-60200 Brno, Czech Republic
The growth of knowledge in animal breeding and disease control in 1800-1950 is examined in three qualitative periods. The pioneer art of breeding new animal races, ascribed to R. Bakewell (1725-95) in England, was transferred to Moravia and treated as scientific breeding reaching the climax in the formulation of the research question of heredity in Brno in 1830s. Summarising the discussion of sheep breeders professor J. K. Nestler (1783-1841) stressed that breeders selecting animals with required traits had to eliminate individuals with defective traits. In his opinion, there was no animal without any defect, at least without any endowment (Anlage) of a defect. Therefore, inbreeding and progeny testing were the only methods for creating new animal races. The second period is connected with the research of Mendel and the origin and development of genetics culminating in 1930s in the transmission genetics when the rules of inheritance of the main economical traits were solved. At that time the term genetic engineering appeared as a plea for combining the recent knowledge of genetics on the organismal and population levels in commercial breeding. The third period, beginning with the genetic research on the cell and molecular levels, opened the way to biotechnologies finding soon application in animal breeding and especially in disease control. Soon after 1950, various diseases of domestic animals and the man have been illustrated for which specific genes were responsible. Soon thereafter, F. B. Hutt in USA was explaining to students of agriculture and veterinary medicine how animal breeders and veterinarians could learn herediraty diseases.
GENETICS APPLIED TO ANIMAL BREEDING AND DISEASE CONTROL: PROGRESS SINCE 1950
Geoff Simm1, Haja Kadarmideen1, Jennie Pryce1, Stephen Bishop2 and Stewart Lowden3
1SAC (Scottish Agricultural College), West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
2Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK
3Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh, EH9 1QH, UK.
Many of the scientific foundations for genetic improvement of farm livestock and the design of animal breeding programmes were laid in the mid 1900s. Pioneers in this field included Lush, Dickerson, Hazel, Lerner, Henderson and Robertson. Much of their work, in turn, rested on earlier developments in population and quantitative genetics, especially the extension of Darwin's and Mendel's work to artificially selected populations, and to quantitative (measured) traits, which are often affected by both genes and environment. Classical examples of this early work, which remain highly relevant today, are Robertson and colleagues' studies on the design of dairy cattle breeding programmes based on progeny testing and artificial insemination, and Henderson's work on 'best linear unbiased prediction', a statistical method for predicting the genetic merit of livestock. Over the last 50 years, advances in animal science, reproductive biology, genetics, statistics and computing have contributed to the development of effective performance recording, genetic evaluation and genetic improvement schemes for most farmed species, capable of delivering cumulative gains of 1-2% per annum for the trait (or combination of traits) under selection. Application of these methods has had major beneficial effects on the cost and quality of food, and on the efficiency and competitiveness of the livestock industries concerned.
Over the same period, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of single gene disorders recognised in farmed and companion animals (e.g. bovine leucocyte adhesion deficiency, malignant hyperthermia syndrome in pigs, nephritis in dogs). Similarly, many examples of chromosomal aberrations have been discovered, which can have a profound effect on development or fertility. (For more examples of genetic disorders see http://morgan.angis.su.oz.au.) There has been synergy between animal breeding and veterinary medicine in the understanding of multifactorial diseases, where liability is influenced both by one or (often) more genes and by non-genetic factors; the heritability provides a measure of the degree of genetic control. Examples of this type of disease include hip dysplasia and congenital heart disease in dogs, mastitis in dairy cattle and nematode infections in sheep. Selection, combined with strategic vaccination, has been successfully used for many years by the poultry industry to control Marek's disease. Additionally, selection for resistance to mastitis and other multifactorial diseases of farm livestock, and for other measures of functional fitness such as survival and fertility, is being practised increasingly. Development of methods for incorporating this type of trait into selection programmes is a major area of activity in animal breeding. Modelling of genetics and epidemiology together is also proving valuable in developing effective, integrated, disease control strategies for multifactorial diseases.
Advances in molecular biology are allowing the identification and location of individual genes, or other sequences of DNA, on the chromosomes. In the short to medium term, the main benefit of these techniques is likely to be in assisting conventional selection programmes, especially for traits like disease resistance which are difficult to measure. (For example, a DNA-based test is widely used to select for scrapie resistance in UK sheep flocks.) Until now, the identification of genes controlling complex traits, such as disease resistance and production traits, has been difficult. Recently however, the development of DNA microarrays has offered much promise. These arrays may be used for genome-wide monitoring of gene expression. This genome-wide approach may not only provide a means of identifying key controlling genes, but will enable a deeper understanding many biochemical pathways and perhaps how organisms really function. In the longer term the transfer of genes between strains, breeds or species may be used for agricultural applications. The technique is already being used in the production of novel pharmaceutical proteins in milk. However, creating transgenic animals to improve productivity is unlikely to be publicly acceptable in the EU and elsewhere, in the short to medium term.
AN OUTLINE OF HEREDITY AS SEEN BY THE XIXth CENTURY FRENCH ZOOTECHNICIANS
Bernard Denis
Professeur de Zootechnie, Ecole nationale vétérinaire, BP 40706, 44307 NANTES Cedex 03, France
Our purpose is not to deal with the history of heredity in XIXth century but, more modestly, to examine what french zootechnicians said in that field and concluded in order to improve livestock. It appears difficult to synthetize what they wrote because it is not always clear and, sometimes, they look for originality, trying to distinguish themselves. We report here what seems to be dominant features, considering them broadly.
Identification of hereditary traits appears to be confused. The difference between qualitative and quantitative is, of course, ignored but, furthermore, both simple and very complex traits are considered similarly. Many traits are believed to be hereditary, without discrimination between the role of heredity and environment. We must not forget that the importation of improved livestock from England took place in this context: the quality of animals was believed to be more important than feeding, to get milk for instance. No so-called "laws of heredity" were formulated but many observations brought to light the influence of some factors in the transmission of traits.
The most important of these factors are: sex, age and body condition in breeding period, atavism, environment, initial mismating.
The works of Buffon (XVIIIth century) on mules and hinnies led to the idea that father and mother had not the same role in the transmission of traits to progeny. Zootechnicians gradually refute this opinion but, at the end of the XIXth century, old and ingrained ideas had not completely disappeared.
It was considered as obvious that a matured and well conditioned animal, mated with a weaker one (because of undernutrition, over-working or age), transmitted its qualities to progeny. Furthermore, the better conditioned of the two parents was supposed to transmit its sex. So it was possible, by the choice of reproducers, to direct and predict the qualities of their progeny!
Atavism manifests itself when animals show traits of their forefathers. Each kind of community (breed, variety, family) has its own atavism, all the more brought out since the population is old. Zootechnicians ask, what are or what are not true manifestations of atavism. In 1888, Baron gave explanations which clearly evoked recessive traits and spoke of "latent heredity", whose organic substratum was to be found in the "infinitely small"! It seems that this professor in Alfort's veterinary school had some intuition of Mendel's laws.
As we said, the importance of environment was ignored or underestimated. Nevertheless, failures in increasing the size of a breed by crossing it with a larger one (an idea which came from the XVIIIth century) progressively led to a better appreciation of the importance of agronomical conditions and feeding.
The influence of initial mismating (telegony) is a well-known topic and we know that, today, some canine breeders still believe in it. Zootechnicians fully discussed this question and many of them agreed with the existence of telegony or didn't dare to clearly contest it.
At the end of the XIXth century, just before the rediscovery of Mendel's laws, many points remained confused in the writings about heredity, difference was not always made between important and secondary facts and it was difficult to abandon old and well-established but wrong ideas. Nevertheless, the level of knowledge, added to good-sense allowed some success in selection and crossing practices. It is especially mis-understanding and underestimating the role of environment which explain disappointments.
GENETICS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE: PRESENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Petr Horín, Jirí Rubeš*
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
*Dept. of Genetics, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
Veterinary genetics is a branch of genetics studying different genetic aspects of animal health. Many genes influencing animal health have been identified so far. They thus provide a rationale for improving animal health by genetical methods. Since health traits have been currently included into breeding programmes, veterinarians need to understand basic principles of selection and animal breeding. Genetics also provide a molecular explanation of many phenomena originally studied by other specialists (e.g. physiologists, immunologists etc). Molecular genetic techniques, including transgenesis, thus became widely exploited in different biological and medical areas, not only for genetical purposes.
Based on these general principles, several areas of practical application of genetics developed in veterinary medicine. Inherited diseases have been identified in all important animal species. In some of the diseases, the causative mutation was identified, mapped and an appropriate test for identifying eventual heterozygous carriers was developed. Different systems of control of economically important inherited diseases and congenital anomalies have been implemented in different countries. Genetic resistance and susceptibility to disease is an important concept for defining animal breeding strategies. Genetic variability in reaction to different infectious and non-infectious pathogenic factors was demonstrated in economically important livestock diseases, like cattle mastitis, stress in pigs, Marek's disease in chickens and several others. Studies of molecular mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility to different pathogens provide a background for future application of molecular techniques in animal breeding. Mutagenic effects of environmental factors represent an important risk for human and animal populations. Gametic and somatic mutations induced by different physical, chemical and/or biological agents present in the environment may cause infertility, reduced fertility, inherited diseases, congenital anomalies, and/or tumors. It thus became important to test mutagenicity of individual factors and to monitor risks of mutagenesis in different environements. From the point of view of veterinary medicine, food animals represent important part of food chains and a potential source of different mutagens for human population.
Molecular genetic methods, like detection of specific DNA and of DNA polymorphisms contributed to more accurate diagnostics of infectious and other diseases. Methods of RNA genetics allow us to study pathogenetic mechanisms of different types of disease. Genetic manipulations, like production of recombinant microorganisms and transgenic technologies, along with in vitro fertilization and cloning technologies led to implementation of new and efficient technologies for producing drugs, vaccines and other products important for veterinary medicine.
Complex approaches are now used for an accurate definition of genes underlying complex economically important (health and production) traits. In parallel to the complete sequencing of human genome (HUGO), candidate gene approach is used in domestic animals. Different markers are used for scanning the genome and identifying chromosome regions influencing the respective trait. Methods of fine gene mapping then allow identification of specific genes and genotypes that could be used for defining more accurate methods of estimating breeding values and of marker-assisted selection.
Our laboratories in Brno are currently involved in gene mapping projects in pigs (Veterinary Research Institute - VRI) and horses (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FVM), molecular cytogenetics (VRI), environmental mutagenesis (VRI), immunogenetics and genetics of resistance to diseases (especially infectious disease - FVM).
In the future, all of the above briefly mentioned fields are expected to develop rapidly. Some new areas, like pharmacogenetics and others, have been identified as potentially important in the near future as well. However, ethical and legislative challenges resulting from the rapid development must be seriously considered.
RELATIONS BETWEEN GENETIC CHANGE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK
Pieter W. Knap and Stephen C. Bishop*
PIC Group, Roslin Institute (Edinburgh)
*Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, UK
This paper examines relations between genetic change (in production traits or health-related traits) and infectious disease (its epidemiology or the animal's reaction to it), which have received little attention. The overall picture is confusing because there are at least four very different, and seemingly unrelated, ways of considering the issue; we attempt to put these together into a more general framework, by addressing four questions: (i) can we breed for immunocompetence? (ii) does today's direction of breeding have a negative impact on immunocompetence? (iii) does improved immunocompetence result in improved health? and (iv) how large is the negative impact of disease on production?
Genetic changes in immunocompetence The actual expression of immunocompetence will depend on the animal's genetic potential for immunocompetence in the first place. We show that there is ample opportunity for changing a population's genetic potential for immuno-competence by breeding, because many of the related characteristics show substantial genetic variation between animals.
Production potential and immunocompetence There is growing evidence for effects of the genetic potential for production traits on the actual expression of immunocompetence. Genotypes with high production potential, when placed in an environment that is (i) inadequate in terms of metabolic resources to support the high production levels and (ii) challenging in terms of infectiousness, tend to allocate resources primarily towards production-related processes. This leaves the immune system with insufficient resources, which may lead to inadequate immune response in case of infection.
Immunocompetence and disease status Immunocompetence disease resistance show genetic variation between animals. Resistance to some diseases is under the control of one single gene, which often codes for the presence of receptors to the pathogen in the host tissue. Such traits are easily exploited by marker-assisted selection, but for most diseases the resistance is polygenic. Breeding for such resistance would require access to several DNA markers, or the set-up of cumbersome selection programmes based on challenge routines. Although this is possible, it is a costly exercise and its implementation should be preceded by a proper cost-benefit analysis. The benefits can be studied by means of genetic-epidemiological models. These models translate (i) the infectiousness of a pathogen and (ii) the level of genetic resistance against it in an animal population, into the disease status of that population. The latter can be described in terms of the minimum proportion of animals that must be resistant to protect the population from an epidemic, or the decline of the probability (and severity) of an epidemic as time (and selection) progresses, etc.
Immune system activation and production Infection, and the associated activation of the immune system, will lead to a cascade of resource-demanding processes, most notably: (i) acute phase response, mainly glycoprotein synthesis; (ii) fever, with the same metabolic effect as subcritical ambient temperature; (iii) production of immune cells and immunoglobulins; (iv) repair of damaged tissue; (v) anorexia. Items (i) and (iii) require extra protein synthesis but not much metabolic effort. Item (iv) may cause a strong increase in protein turnover rates and hence increase metabolism considerably. Item (ii) constitutes an important metabolic cost: a raise of body temperature by 1 °C increases metabolic rate by about 10%. Item (v) has the most dramatic effects on metabolism.
HISTORY OF SELECTION ON HEALTH IN LIVESTOCK IN THE NETHERLANDS
A.H. Visscher and J.K. Oldenbroek
ID-Lelystad, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
Livestock production system went through tremendous changes during the last fifty years. The number of dairy, pig and poultry farms has decreased continuously since the fifties while the output per farm is increased even at a higher speed. Making the Netherlands the third exporting country in the world for animal products.
Disease has always been a major concern in livestock production systems. Diseases can be categorised in perinatal mortality, genetic defects, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can be subdivided in bacterial, viral and ecto- and endo parasites. In the century are ample tools developed for disease control such as hygiene management, medication, vaccination and genetic procedures. Over the last fifty years the impact of each tool changed for costs, technical and political reasons.
Natural selection, survival breeding and challenge testing traditionally improved resistance to infectious diseases. Over the years natural selection declined in importance because breeders have improved the hygienic environment and applied vaccinations and other veterinary measures.
Survival breeding negatively influences selection for production parameters. Challenge tests are difficult to standardise and testing of sibs is very expensive. Therefore indirect selection is preferable if a close correlation with resistance to disease is present and the testing is not prohibitive. From the forties through the sixties knowledge about immunology was increasing and different kinds of vaccines and antibiotics were developed. From the sixties through the eighties the use of vaccinations and antibiotics in animal production systems increased as a consequence of the heavy intensification. Due to the non-vaccination policy, importance of disease resistance increased (variation within breeds). In the eighties selection experiments on immune responsiveness of chickens and pigs were started. In the nineties studies were conducted to study the relationships between immune competence profile and disease incidence in pigs and calves.
Ever since the fifties quantitative genetic selection against genetic defects and metabolic diseases, executed with the help of phenotypic all or none traits, grew in importance through the use of AI with deepfrozen semen. The molecular genetic tools, developed since the eighties, had the big advantage that heterozygous animals could be detected and if necessary used for breeding purposes.
HISTORIC EVOLUTION OF THE GENETIC TEACHING IN THE OLDER SPANISH VETERINARY SCHOOLS
Garcia Pérez, J.M.,* Castańo Maria, Rodríguez Ana, Rodríguez, M.
*Dpto. Farmacologia y Toxicologia (Asociatión Madrilena de Histologia de la Veterinaria) Dpto. Patologia Animal II.
Maria Castańo, Facultad de Veterinaria, Ctra de la Coruńa, Km. 5,600, Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid, Espańa. E-mail vetpa@eucmax.sim.ucm.es tel./fax 003 49139443811
Within the interest of the authors in genetic teaching at veterinary schools, this communication gives data obtained from investigations about genetic teaching development of all types: doctrinal, academic, teaching staff biographics and bibliographic, as this is a science that from its origin, in the beginning of the 20th century, was incorporated to the different studying plans, with dawning acknowledgement of the same, that began to overcome what at that time belonged to the biologic inheritance, until the creation of a chair denominated specifically of Genetics in the curriculum, colaborated by the famous veterinarian and politician Mr. Félix Gordón Ordás, in 1931, and its evolution and development in the (following) years until the conversion from Schools to Veterinary Faculties, in 1944.
We also include data and news about the benefits that these genetic teaching provided to both pupils and veterinarians, the application in the proffesional exercise and also the positive results that were appreciated in farming improvement.
OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS AND BREEDING - THE DEVELOPMENT IN BAVARIA SINCE 1900
Rainer Grimm
Obere Bichl Str. 11, D-83278 Traunstein
The tasks of the Bavarian official veterinarians in farm animal breeding have considerably changed during the past 100 years.
The control of coital infections, such as brucellosis, trichomoniasis and vibriosis, was given priority at the time of natural mating. Breeding of cattle for combined performance (meat, milk, work) was preferred. Pig husbandry was oriented on maximum production of fat and sheep were bred for high production of the currently almost unsellable wool and for sound legs necessary for migratory grazing.
Nowadays, at the time of computer-assisted breeding, artificial insemination, and gen- and biotechnologies, the selection criteria have changed considerably.
The current management practices on large farms, housing in free stall barns, and extensive and intensive animal husbandry make different demands on the animals.
The duties of official veterinarians include not only the assessment of conformation, but also the search for genetic anomalies, in particular those relevant to animal welfare. The high frequency of susceptibility to stress and myopathies in the current swine population can be effectively reduced by selection. The same applies to breast necrosis in the heavy sheep breeds (Merino).
As a member of the licensing board for sires, the official veterinarian can rectify its decisions. Official veterinarians are also engaged in the education of young future farmers and provide advisory services to farm owners and managers.
According to the current service regulations, the official veterinarian is charged with the task of a protector and counsel for prosecution in cases of cruelty to animals. His duty is to point out adverse consequences of overly single-trait breeding for high performance. Husbandry practices that may lead to severe suffering or health damage are prohibited in Germany.
Regretably, the influence of official veterinarians on animal breeding and husbandry is weakening because state institutions are increasingly forced to move to private companies.
THE DUTCH MUSEUM "ANIMAL BREEDING AND AI"
Jan A.H. van Lieshout, Chris M.T. Willems
Museum "Animal Breeding and AI", Dr. Moonsweg 5, 5437 BG Beers, The Netherlands, phone:+31 485330241; fax:+31 485312643; E-mail: liesh070@wxs.nl
Since the middle of the 19th century Dutch Friesian cattle has been sold to the USA. For that reason the Dutch Cattle Herdbook Association and the Friesian Cattle Herdbook Association were founded in 1874 and 1879.
Milk Recording started at the beginning of the 20th century.
Artificial Insemination in cattle started on an experimental basis in 1936, but most of the AI associations were founded after the second world war. The main reason to begin with AI in cattle was due to the extensive spreading of the two venereal diseases, at that time called Trichomonas foetus and Vibrio fetus.
AI in pigs started in the late 50s. The reason to start with AI in pigs was disease control. In contrary to the situation in other countries the Dutch Herdbooks felt the importance of AI for the improvement of their breeding programmes. So AI in pigs increased very rapidly until more than 2.7 million doses semen in 1998.
At the start all AI associations were very small co-operatives. They soon fused to bigger ones and at the moment there is only one co-operative for cattle breeding C.R. Delta. It does herdbook registration, milk recording, AI and trade. C.R. Delta covers about 95% of the Dutch market.
The merging of breeding organizations and AI centres has caused a big loss of material, such as instruments, equipment, books etc. To prevent these losses some employees of the AI associations, most of them retired, collected the material and made a plan to sample, describe and expose the items and to start a museum. They established a foundation and formed a committee. The possibility to start the museum is mainly due to the financial and moral support of C.R. Delta. By may 1999 the museum was opened officially.
The purpose of the museum, as described in the articles, is to collect, describe, preserve and exhibit the cultural inheritance related to animal husbandry and AI. The museum has found accommodation for a period of three years (1999-2001) in a former AI centre.
It has about 450 m2 of exhibition area, a meeting room, a restaurant with a shop, a library, archives room and a laboratory. In the main hall documents and objects related to breeding and AI of cattle and pigs are exposed in showcases. Another room is used to expose big devices, e.g. those used for AI and embryo transfer in sheep, measuring of bacon in pigs and in showcases one can find documentation and pictures about breeding and AI of horses, sheep, goats, poultry and bees. In the laboratory one can find laboratory instruments for cattle and pig AI and milk recording. Visitors have the opportunity to see semen and embryo's under the microscope. There are facilities available for children to have an active participation.
The museum is open for individuals from 1 April to 1 November on Wednesday and Saturday and all the year round each day of the week for groups from at least 15 persons. There are day- programs in connection with regional tourist offices and nearby farms. The museum is mentioned in the national and provincial museum guidebook.
The promotion activities of the museum are focused on cattle and pig breeders, study groups associated to this subject, groups of elderly people (Rotary and Lions Clubs), tourist offices.
THE ROLE OF PROFESSOR F. B. HUTT DR H.C. IN THE RENEWAL OF GENETICS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE IN BRNO
Rudolf Böhm and Jirí Šindlár
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Scieces Brno, Palackeho 1-3, CZ-61242 Brno, Czech Republic
The closing of Czech Universities in Brno by the Nazis in 1939 significantly retarded the growth of genetical knowledge in animal breeding and disease control. In the meantime the recent knowledge of genetics were successfully introduced in USA in commercial animal breeding. After the World War II F. Stencl (1887-1978) and J. Kríženecký (1896-1964) were enthusiastically introducing genetics into curricula of the Veterinary University (VU) and the Agricultural University of Brno, respectively. After the communists takeover in Czechoslovakia in 1948, genetics was subjugated to political ideology and labelled as reactionary Mendelism and Morganism. Both the teachers, who were not ready to recant their science, were dismissed. Due to the forced collectivisation in agriculture, the shortage of agricultural product became apparent. Large animal farms were built disregarding the intergrative role of genetics. However, soon L. Lojda and K. Labík, the graduates of the VU, enforced genetic control of hereditary diseases in newly introduced artificial insemination of cattle. At the same time B. Klimeš, professor of poultry diseases at the VU, urged the application of recent knowledge in genetics in poultry breeding and in disease control in particular. In 1960 he invited Kríženecký to teach genetics in the newly established Institute of Poultry Diseases. Kríženecký paid attention to genetic resistance in animal diseases introduced by professor F.B. Hutt in USA. On his proposal VU awarded Hutt the degree Doctor honoris causa in 1965. The merits of professor Hutt in the renewal of genetics in veterinary medicine will be explained in the lecture.
WOMEN IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
GENDER AND VETERINARY MEDICINE: GLOBAL HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
Susan D. Jones
University of Colorado, Campus Box 234, Boulder, Colorado, 80309-0234, USA
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, we are living through a transition in the interactions between gender and veterinary medicine. Traditionally male-dominated, veterinary medicine has recently experienced a world-wide increase in the number of women entering veterinary schools and practicing in all areas of the profession. Understanding this transition requires us to ask historical and sociological questions in order to illuminate the role of gender and the participation of women in the development of modern veterinary medicine. My paper will outline an agenda for historians interested in research on gender and veterinary medicine, focusing on three specific methodologies and using some of my own research data to illustrate them.
First, scholars around the world have begun to identify pioneer women veterinarians and write their biographies. This methodology represents the majority of the work published on this topic to date, and it is the first stage of research. It accomplishes many important goals: to recognize key historical figures previously neglected; to establish the important contributions that women have made to veterinary medicine; and to illuminate the development of veterinary ideas and practice in the process of describing women's lives.
Second, I recommend that scholars begin to study the ideological connections between gender and veterinary medicine. This cultural-intellectual historical methodology promises to be a fruitful way to study gender and veterinary medicine (as it has been for the history of science and human medicine). Over different time periods and in different places, it explores the cultural gender roles and the culture of veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. By comparing the two, we can explain much about the inclusion (or exclusion) of women and the ideological meanings of veterinary medicine itself within human-animal relationships and within human social organization.
Finally, the sociological approach, encompassing the use of demographics, economics, and social history, should be applied, especially in discussing recent historical concerns. These traditional social science methods work well in answering questions about a profession, who enters it, who leaves it, and why. This methodology also allows comparison between cultures and fits together with the other methodologies I have described.
I encourage historians to explore these and other methodologies in this new and exciting area of research. Also, it is our responsibility to ensure that data are being currently collected, since we are living through a transition that will greatly interest historians of veterinary medicine in the future.
FEMINISATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE NETHERLANDS 1925-2000
Peter A. Koolmees
Department of the Science of Food of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
The feminisation of veterinary medicine occurred in The Netherlands, as elsewhere in the world, in the course of the twentieth century. In 1930, Jeannette Voet (1907-1979) was the first female veterinarian graduate from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University. In contrast with the first Dutch female physician who graduated in 1878, Jeannette Voet was not an active feminist. Instead, she concentrated on the development of various fields of veterinary medicine during her career. Nevertheless, she played an important role in the acceptance of women in Dutch veterinary medicine. The integration of women into all areas of the veterinary profession was a gradual process. Meat inspection, in particular, proved to be rather conservative in its acceptance of female veterinarians.
The number of women veterinarians in the profession increased only gradually throughout the twentieth century. In 1970, women represented not more than 5% of all veterinarians in The Netherlands. A significant increase in female students was first observed in the 1980s. The large influx of city girls who are primarily interested in companion animal and horse medicine is still quite remarkable. The average percentage of female first-year students between 1988 and 1992 was 60; over the last 5 years, this increased to 70%. Between 1988 and 1999, the average percentage of female graduates grew from 35 to 60%. Consequently, the proportion of Dutch female veterinarians increased from 5 to 25% between 1970 and 2000. In spite of this development, the representation of women veterinarians among policy-making officials, leading veterinary authorities and academic staff (particularly at the professor level) is still quite low. From this point of view, veterinary medicine could still be considered as 'a man's job'.
Feminisation of veterinary medicine is often explained by an increase in the numbers of companion animals and horses and part-time jobs or by a different, gender-based attitude towards animals. Another, simpler, explanation is that fewer male students are attracted to veterinary medicine because they can make more money in other professions. More historical sociological research, including a comparison with feminisation in other sciences and broader society, is necessary to obtain a deeper insight into this phenomenon. Regardless, feminisation is likely to further change the veterinary profession in the near future.
WOMEN FROM UKRAINE IN VETERINARY MEDICINE - THE FIRST FEMALE STEP IN THE WORLD OF HIGHER VETERINARY EDUCATION
S. K. Rudik, O. L. Manuylenko
National Agricultural University of Ukraine Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dept of Animal Anatomy with a Course of History of Veterinary Medicine, Polkovnyka Potekhina 16, Kyiv-41, Ukraine 03041
From the ancient times women had the leading role in the treatment of human beings and animals in Ukraine. They were near the sources of the veterinary and human medicine in Ukraine.
The wives and daughters of the Kyivan princes of the Kyiv Rus Period (IX-XIII centuries) had continued the medical traditions of the ancient ancestors. There were some schools founded in this period: Grand Prince Yaroslav Mudry (Wise) had founded a school for boys (1045) and his granddaughter Yarynka had founded a school for girls (1070). These schools graduates had the knowledge not only of the native language but Latin and Greek too. This knowledge had given opportunities to master medical science and to know all news from the foreign countries not only to females from the ruling house but to the representatives of the other social classes.
There is a copy of a book "Allima"(ointments) in the L. Medici Library in Florence. The Byzantine Empress Zoe (a granddaughter of the Grand Prince Volodymyr Monomakh) had written this book. The Princess Efrosinia of Chernigiv had the distinguished knowledge of human and veterinary medicine and she herself have cured human beings and animals.
The female persons could not study in the establishments of higher education and universities when they were founded in the Eastern Europe (XVIIIth century). They had studied in the family schools: these were midwives, bayal'nytsi, sheptukhy, zelenittsi and so on.
Many Ukrainian women had wanted to study human and veterinary medicine at the university level and at the end of the XIXth century and at the beginning of the XX century the movement for their right for education have increased.
A Committee of the Kharkiv Society for Help to Women had resolved to appeal to the Institution of the higher education asking their authorities to receive female persons at the equal conditions with men (1907). The 3 years earlier (1904) the South-West Society of Veterinary Doctors (Kyiv) had rouse the question about the admission to the veterinary educational establishments a female persons 17-25 years old on the same conditions as men.
The first women from Ukraine who had obtained higher veterinary education were O. Kruszewska and M. Kapcevitch (from Wolyns'ka Gubernia) who graduated from the Zurich Veterinary School (Switzerland) at 1889. The last mentioned had continued her education in Alfort (1897, France). Their follower was a daughter of a landowner from the Khersonska Gubernia V. Dobrovolska who had graduated from Zurich too (1892) and she have worked at a position of a municipal (zemskiy) veterinarian in the Odessa City.
Because Alin Cust had graduated from the Edinburgh Veterinary School (UK) only in 1897 and Belle Reide have graduated from the Australian Veterinary College only in 1907 we presume that females from Ukraine were the first female persons who obtained the higher veterinary education.
THE PRESENCE OF WOMEN IN THE SPANISH VETERINARY SCHOOLS
Castańo Maria, Rodríguez Ana, Garcia Pérez, J.M.,* Rodríguez, M.
Dpto. Patologia Animal II.
*Dpto. Farmacologia y Toxicologia (Asociación Madrileńa de Histologia de la Veterinaria)
Maria Castańo, Facultad de Veterinaria, Ctra de la Coruńa, Km 5600, Ciudad Universitaria 28040 Madrid, Espańa. E-mail vetpa2@eucmax.sim.ucm.es, tel./fax +34 9139443811.
In this communication will try to explain the evolution in the presence of women at Spanish veterinary schools. To begin with, we will comment that Spain is divided in 17 autonomics, in which a principle of equality between men and women exists since the enactment of the constitution, October 6, 1977, nevertheless, it was forbidden for women to enter neither in the army nor in the inside of mines until 1988.
The presence of women in University has been very unequal, at some schools like Philosophy, History, Literature, Art, Pharmacy or Nursery, it was classic the presence of a high number of women, it did not happen that way veterinary schools, where historically feminine students were rare. There are actually nine veterinary schools in our country; the old classic ones: Madrid, Cordoba, Zaragoza and León and five of new creation; Barcelona, Cáceres, Murcia, Lugo and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; we will refer to the four ancient ones in this exposition.
The first school to be created was Madrid (1793), and 50 years after: Cordoba, Zaragoza and León. The first women to enter a veterinary spanish school ended her studies in Cordoba - 1929; and latter on followed León, Zaragoza and Madrid. The number of feminine students was scarce before the seveties, but from then on in began to grow, actually there are over the 80% in the first year. We will explain in depth the lives of the first veterinary women in each of the 4 classic schools.
All the data referred to the changes in the number of women at spanish vet-schools will be from the Madrid vet-school, were the signatories of the communication come from proceed, taking into account that the other schools follow a similar schema.
MARGARET SLOSS: FIRST WOMAN TO GRADUATE FROM THE NATION'S OLDEST VETERINARY SCHOOL
Ole H. V. Stalheim
College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Dr. Margaret Sloss (1901-1979) reshaped the admission policy at the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine by becoming the first woman to be admitted to and graduate from that college. After receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1938, she remained on the staff as a teacher in pathology, advanced to full professor in 1964, and retired in 1972.
Dr. Sloss received her bachelor's degree in zoology in 1923 and worked as a technician in the Department of Pathology. In 1932, she received her master's degree and applied for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine but was denied. When she investigated the document that established the Iowa land-grant college, she found in fine print a statement that persons applying from Iowa could not be refused on basis of sex. She received the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1938 and was the only woman on the staff for 20 years.
Margaret Sloss did not marry. She received many awards and honors, helped found the Women's Veterinary Association in 1947, and served as its president for two terms. She is credited with 13 scientific publications and held offices in many professional and scientific societies.
HELENA BUJWID-JURGIELEWICZOWA, THE FIRST WOMAN GRADUATED IN POLAND FROM VETERINARY MEDICINE
Grzegorz Jakubik
Muzeum Weterynarii, ul.Palacowa 5, 18-230 Ciechanowiec,Poland
Helena Bujwid-Jurgielewicz was born in Kraków on 7th of June 1897. Professor Odo Bujwid, the famous Polish microbiologist was her father. Her mother, Kazimiera was well known as an advocate of women's rights.
She began studying at Academy of Veterinary Medicine in Lwów in 1915, where she did not obtain complete student rights before the fourth year. In 1918 she joined the Polish Army and among others was a commandant of a mobile horse hospital. Her picture made in that time is probably the first depicting a Polish woman working as a veterinary doctor.
Helena Jurgielewiczowa completed studies in reborn Poland and was graduated on 5th of May 1923.
In the years 1923-1926 she was working in the Bacteriological Laboratory of Ministry of Agriculture, then she became a head of utilizing works in 1926. After 1932 she was a vice-director of the slaughter-house in Warszawa. She co-operated with Dr. Irena Maternowska at the organization of its laboratory.
In the beginning of the World War II she went to France. Arrested as a member of the resistance in 1942, Helena Jurgielewiczowa was a prisoner in Perpignon, a camp near Paris and then in the concentration lager in Ravensbruck.
After the war she came back to Poland and joined the action of rebuilding veterinary services. Doctor Jurgielewicz couldn't work as a veterinary doctor becouse of her ill health. After a course on microbiology of food, she found occupation in state medical laboratories. She retired in 1973. She died in Warszawa on 29th of November 1980.
The biography of Helena Bujwid-Jurgielewicz couldn't be complete without sport. She began her sport career in 1912. As a young woman she practiced swimming and rowing. She was interested in horse-riding, particulary in jumping during the interwar period. After finishing her career she was working socially in sport organizations.
For the 100th birth anniversary of Helena Bujwid-Jurgielewicz the session of Historical Section of Polish Society for Veterinary Sciences, treating a contribution of women in Polish veterinary medicine, took place in Ciechanowiec on September 1997.
AFRICAN VETERINARIANS: THE FEMALE PERSPECTIVE
Katinka K.I.M. de Balogh
Department of the Science of Food of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Utrecht University, P.O.Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
While the number of female veterinary students has reached figures as over 80% in the Netherlands and other European countries, the number of female veterinary students in Africa is also changing but still at a slower pace. Still nowadays, according to UNICEF, two-thirds of primary school age children denied their right to basic education are girls. In addition, especially in rural areas, there are only few secondary schools, so that children either have to travel over large distances on a daily basis or have to live away from their families. As girls, already from an early age, play an important role in the daily household routine, they are often not allowed to leave for schooling. Boys generally are involved in herding livestock and these duties are taken over by a very low paid herdsmen.
There used to be less than 10 veterinary faculties in Africa during the first half of the 20th century. These faculties were located in Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria. For many years, African veterinarian were also trained in western countries (UK, France, USA) or in former communist countries (Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Eastern Germany, Cuba) depending on the existence of historic or political links. The long stay abroad made it more difficult for female students, especially for those with children.
The image of the veterinary profession is different in Africa when compared to Europe or the USA. Most veterinary students in western countries expect to work in clinical practice after their graduation. In Africa on the other hand, most veterinarians work in the government structure and generally their activities are directed towards disease prevention and control as well as administrative activities. With a trend toward privatisation of government services and the increase in urbanisation, a limited number of private practices have evolved mainly in the field of small animals.
Still nowadays, female veterinarian in Africa are mostly working for the veterinary departments mainly in the urban areas. Another area were many female veterinarians can be found are governmental diagnostic and research laboratories as well as training institutions such as veterinary faculties or agricultural colleges. Generally the salaries at these institutions are very low and therefore their male colleagues have gradually shifted to work in the private sector with more competitive salaries (private clinics, pharmaceutical companies, development projects, (agricultural) banks, etc). As still in most societies women tend to follow their husbands, most female veterinarians are bound to find employment where their husbands are based. In addition, as most postgraduate training required a prolonged stay abroad, women encountered difficulties in leaving their families behind to improve their career perspectives. Gradually, there has been an increase of possibilities of postgraduate training in the African region as well as the introduction of a modular systems and perspectives for training over the Internet. These developments will clearly be beneficial for women as it will enable them to follow post-graduate training without leaving their families for extended periods.
Gradually, also female veterinarians in Africa are becoming empowered and recognise their capabilities. The understanding of the importance of gender aspects especially with regard to animal husbandry practices has opened up new opportunities for female veterinarians to work in extension services and as health promoters. The access to further education is the key to expanding their professional perspectives. Due to household help and the existence of the extended family structure, women in Africa can often engage more easily in outhouse work when compared to "western" women. It could also be observed that since the creation of veterinary associations in different African countries, more and more women have taken the lead in these societies (e.g.: female presidents of the veterinary association in Botswana, Ethiopia, Uganda), representing their interests and paving the way for the future female colleagues.
MISCELLANEOUS
HISTORY OF THE VETERINARY ANATOMICAL NOMENCLATURE
Oskar Schaller
Veterinary University of Vienna, Institute for Anatomy, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1220 Wien, Austria
Nomenclature means both the process of giving names and a list of terms. Naming parts of the body allows the anatomical research to formulate and communicate ist results. Textbooks on Veterinary Anatomy, literature about such books, existing lists of anatomical terms, and records of nomenclature committees served as a basis of this presentation. The material covers the time from the beginning of scientific medicine in ancient Greece (Hippokrates, 460-375 b.c.) up to the presence.
The tradition to use greek words, mostly in a latinized form, in the anatomical nomenclature originates in the first period reaching until Galenus, 129-199. During ancient times and the Middle Ages the autopsy of humans was not allowed. Therefore the human anatomists used dissections of animals and transferred the results to man (first Anatomy of the pig by Kopho, app. 1110).
At the beginning of the Modern Times these attitudes changed. Sylvius, 1478-1555 gave names to human muscles based on their shape. Vesalius, 1515-64, started to describe organ systems systematically, he is seen as the founder of modern human anatomy. While he and the other human anatomists used the latin language, books on veterinary medicine were written in the language of the author (Ruini 1598, Bourgelat 1766/68, Scotti 1770, Lafosse junior 1772). Translation of latin terms into non-Romance languages sometimes posed difficulties and led to results sounding strange to us.
Between 1762 and 1850 as much as 47 Veterinary Schools were founded in Europe. Unfortunately, there was no general agreement on the anatomical nomenclature. Many structures had different names in different schools. In particular there was disagreement in the using of names of muscles, given by Sylvius. Girard, 1807 and susequent French veterinary anatomists suggested an alternative methodical naming.
The first effort to compile a unified anatomical terminology poduced the Basle Nomina Anatomica (B.N.A.) in 1895. Because the terms of direction were based on the erect position of the human body, a committee on veterinary anatomical nomenclature was established which achieved the adoption of its nomenclature by the International Veterinary Congress in Baden-Baden in 1899. The tems of direction (cranialis, caudalis, dorsalis, ventralis) were related to parts of the body and applicable to all vertebrates. Unfortunately, it was never printed however used in well-known textbooks. A revision of the B.N.A.was adopted in Jena in1936 (J.N.A.). It used the same terms of direction as the Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature of 1899. Many terms necessary in Veterinary Anatomy were not listed. But established veterinary anatomical terms were adapted to the linguistic rules of the J.N.A. by the authors of several widely accepted textbooks.
A new nomenclature was adopted by the International Congress of Anatomists in Paris in 1955 (P.N.A.) which had international recognition. It was opposed by veterinary anatomists, because it reintroduced the old terms of direction of the B.N.A. They founded an International Association of Veterinary Anatomists with the objective of preparing a nomenclature of veterinary anatomy. An International Committee on Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature (I.C.V.A.N.) was appointed 1957. This published the first edition of Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (N.A.V.) in 1968. It constitutes the first internationally recognized list of terms serving the gross anatomy of domestic animals, specifically the cat, dog, pig, ox, sheep, and horse. The N.A.V. are a list of 6.545 Latin terms of which fewer than ten percent are explained in footnotes.
Similar circumstances with the Nomina Anatomica of human anatomy prompted Feneis in 1967 to publish an illustrated anatomical nomenclature. The book was translated into several languages. I soon recognized the need of an illustrated version of the N.A.V. and was enough fortunate to find outstanding veterinary anatomists as authors. The Illustrated Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature was published in 1992. It contains Latin terms arranged as in the N.A.V., each term is followed by a brief English definition, the corresponding structure can be seen in an illustration. By now it has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.
In 1994 the fourth edition of the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria was published, together with the second revision of the Nomina Histologica and the Nomina Embryologica Veterinaria in one volume.
NOTES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF ZOONOSIS
Adriano Mantovani
WHO/FAO Collaboranting Centre for Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitŕ, Rome
Ever since a millennium BC (corresponding to about 120 human generations) it had been recognised that some diseases can affect man and animals at the same time. The transmissibility of rabies (the mother of all zoonoses) from the dog to man was recognised in the IV century BC.
In the Roman times the conception was developed that diseases of animals, especially those affecting the skin, were able to affect persons, mainly those occupationally connected with them. In the late Middle Ages and Renaissance the concept was extended to products of animal origin.
In 1855, Virchow used the term zoonosis for infections due to contagious animal poisons ("Infectionen durch contagiösen Thiergifte"). As the concept of contagion was developed (by arthropods, helminths, protozoa, mycetes, bacteria, viruses, prions), the number of infections transmissible from animals to man increased gradually. Every type of environment, near every species of vertebrate animals and most human activities were connected with zoonoses, even if the role of man in the lifecycles of their agents is limited.
In 1959, the World Health Organisation defined zoonoses as those diseases and infections (the agents of) which are naturally transmitted between (other) vertebrate animals and man. The proposals to introduce classifications (such as anthropozoonoses, zooanthroponoses, amphixenoses) were scarcely successful.
Over the last fifty years the importance of zoonoses and resources (research, public investments, etc.) associated with them was gaining ground. Public Health, and its branch Veterinary Public Health, have recognised that zoonoses are one, but not the sole problem connected with the "couple" man-animals. The concept of zoonosis in the usual sense (i. e. referred to infections alone) is limiting. On the other hand, with few exceptions, zoonotic agents, once they have infected man, cannot be transmitted to other persons or animals. Conversely, there are many agents not capable of reproducing which can be transferred from animals to man and provoke disease; for example, dioxins, hormones, antibiotics, environmental poisons, etc. may be transmitted via foods of animal origin. Contacts with animals may cause sensitisation. Also traumas, such as bites might be included in this category.
We propose therefore to modify the definition of a zoonosis as follows: any detriment to the health and/or quality of human life deriving from direct or indirect relationships with vertebrate animals.
ARCHIVES OF THE HUNGARIAN VETERINARY UNIVERSITY
Jenö Kováts
Gróf P. Street 8, H-7100 Szekszárd, Hungary
The Archives is so old, as the Hungarian Veterinary Education. It´s material is very rich.
From 1787, the beginning of the Hungarian Veterinary Education, the leaders of the University collected with exemplary diligence the official documents. Sorry, the collection of the first part of the 20. Century suffered big losses, when in January-February 1945 by the Russian siege of Budapest three bomb-hits and many artillery-shots destroyed more buildings. Beside the effective damages caused the weather big losses too in the withot top-buildings, because very much documents got drenched. We have to mention still, that after occupying of Budapest, the Soviet headquarters took up his quaters in the dean-office of the University. In this time very much documents were disappeared, burned, scattered.
In 1937, on occasion of the 150 anniversary of the Hungarian Veterinary Education was founded the Museum of Veterinary History and part of documents were placed here. Unfortunatly, a significant part of this collection has been also destroyed by the Russian sige. Today is the museum opend again and people can visit it.
On occasion of the 200 anniversary of the Hungarian Veterinary Education, 1987, began the elaboration of the documents in volumes. In the last 13 yers issued four volumes is now in preparation. The four volumes reflect exactly the more than 200 years old history of the University and Veterinary Education and give big help for the researchers.
A BIOGRAPHICAL REGISTER OF SWEDISH VETERINARIANS
Barbro Hellgren
The Veterinary Historical Museum, Box 234, S-532 23 Skara, Sweden
Account for a number of Swedish registers of veterinarians, older and present ones, portrait galleries, annual registers and directories.
The main focus is laid upon the Swedish Biographical Register that was published 1999 and the two earlier ones published in 1909 and 1927 edited by Frykholm and which have been a model or pattern for the today's register.
Account of the special problems or questions during a work of this kind: Original research is of course necessary but how deep?
The work with part 2 in full speed with problems of another type than with the work with part 1, for example more personal contacts with relatives. How to handle those who don't want to answer as the effort is to have a complete biographical register.
ON THE PEERAGE OF IGNAZ JOSEF PESSINA VON CZECHOROD
Christina Mache, Christian Stanek
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria
Ignaz J. Pessina or Ignaz J. Pessina von Czechorod: nobilitation? Ignaz Josef Pessina was sometimes called Ignaz J. Pessina von Czechorod, the problem of the correct name shall be described in this lecture. Eduard Pessina had problems with the authority, official investigations began in 1857/58, whether his noble title is inherited or assumed. This investigations were launched because of the nobilitation of Wenzel Pessina, cleric in Prague.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF GLANDERS AT THE VETERINARY UNIVERSITY BRNO
Leopold Pospíšil
Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Hudcova 70, 621 32 Brno, Czech Republic
Glanders is a lethal contagious disease of horses, donkeys and their crossess which can be transmitted and is highly dangerous to humans (95% mortality). The currently accepted name of the causative agent is Burgholderia mallei (formerly Pseudomonas mallei, Pfeiferella mallei, Loefflerella mallei, Malleomyces mallei, or Actinobacillus mallei). The infection is manifested by development of ulcerating nodes in upper airways and lungs. The skin form of the infection is known as "farcy".
Glanders at the Veterinary High School, Brno, is associated with a unique event. In 1918, when the School was established, the epizootiological situation in the former Czechoslovakia was very serious and glanders ranked among priority problems the teachers of the young school had to cope with. Thus, already in 1920, the founder and first head of the Institute of Microbiology Professor Dr. Ševcík (1886 - 1930) defended his second doctorate thesis "A Contribution to Serological Diagnostics of Glanders" which became the starting point for his further paper ("Diagnostics and control of glanders in the armed forces" published in Zverolékarský obzor, 1919, No. 1-4) and theses of students working under his supervision.
The first and the only victim of glanders at the Veterinary High School was MVDr. Miroslav Derbek (born 3 Aug. 1894). Derbek was a lecturer at the Institute of Pathological Anatomy headed by Professor MUDr. Jan Lukeš, who was the first to identify and describe Leptospira canicola. Derbek's hopeful educational and scientific career was dramatically interrupted at the age of 29 by what is known as the "Verovany Case".
M.V., a farmer in Verovany in the district of Prerov, owned a mare and a gelding purchased from the army. The gelding suffered from a chronic fistular lesion in the withers region.
The farmer' s daughter, who cared for the horse, developed signs of a serious disease on 6 March 1923 and died 10 days thereafter.
The farmer's stepson died on 30 March 1923 showing the same clinical signs.
After his death, the horses were killed and autopsied by Dr. Derbek. During the autopsy, Dr. Derbek's face and mouth were accidentally sprinkled with infectious material. In spite of immediate desinfection by all means then available, Dr. Derbek contracted the infection and died on 30 Sept. 1923 in a Prague hospital.
His corpse was autopsied at the Professor Hlava's Institute of Pathological Anatomy, by the lecturer MUDr. Jirí Šolc who also became infected and died of glanders several days later.
Dr. Derbek's wife died on 9 Oct. 1923 and Professor Hlava forbade any further autopsies.
Dr. Derbek and Dr. Šolc were the last victims of occupational glanders in Czechoslovakia.
PROF. DR. KAROL FRIED - THE FOUNDER OF VETERINARY HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Jantošovic, J., Pokorný, J.,* Kozák, M., Vrabec, V.
University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice
*Institute of Postgradual Education of Veterinary Surgeons, Košice
Prof. Fried - many years standing university teacher, recognized veterinary internist and distinguished representative of veterinary histiography.
He was born on June 16, 1922 at Hôrka nad Váhom in the West Slovakian region. In 1941 he passed a school leaving examination at the Secondary Grammar School and in the same year he started to study veterinary medicine in Vienna. He finished his studies at the Veterinary University in Brno in 1947. He began to work as an assistant of prof. Dr. F. Král at the Ist Internal Clinic in Brno. In 1950, he came to the newly founded Veterinary College in Košice. At first, he led the Institute of Physiology of Farm Animals and from 1951 he started to build up the Ist Internal Clinic, which he was leading for 35 years.
In addition to his pedagogical, research work, in the middle of 50s, he was also a co-founder of Slovak veterinary histiography At the beginning, history was only his hobby, later he devoted to it professionally. His activity in this field is closely connected with the Cabinet of Veterinary Medicine of the Veterinary College (now University of Veterinary Medicine) in Košice. From 1986 to his sudden leaving in 1998 he was a head of Veterinary History Cabinet of Institute of Postgradual Education of Veterinary Surgeons. He paid great attention to the studies of outstanding representatives of veterinary medicine (university teachers, scientists, specialists and organizers of veterinary activities) who came from Slovakia, worked in Slovakia or had a certain relation to Slovakia.
He published 6 books concerning histiography, including four decades of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Košice. These books document by word and picture, the life and work of the university during its 40 years existence. He also worked out the history of veterinary education in historic Hungary and in Slovakia. In these works he pointed out to a complicated historical development in a close relationship to economical and socio-political development of Slovakia, first within Austria-Hungary, and then within Czechoslovakia. He used available written documents as well as recollections of older generation of veterinarians. The work reminds younger generation of efforts, devotedness to create the firm base for veterinary education. His rich knowledge of histiography he summarized in 150 veterinary-historical articles published in professional and scientific journals.
His educational, scientific-research and organizing work was appreciated by awarding more prizes.
Prof. Fried was modest, sincere, kind-hearted and a bit retreated. He was human, tolerant, with a sense of justice and therefore he was very popular and honoured at the university as well as in veterinary community. His hobbies were history, music and mathematics. Each of them helps him to widen the horizon of his inner world and to overcome easier the life obstacles and problems. It is great pity that his sudden death on February 21, 1998 untimely finished his universally productive life. His prepared book "Significant Representatives of Veterinary Education, Science and Practice in Slovakia" and more articles have remained unfinished.
Despite his sudden and unexpected leaving, it may be stated that prof. Fried succeeded in creation of the work which will be regarded by next generations with respect and acknowledgement.
PROFESSOR PETER JESSEN AND THE CATTLE PLAGUE
Enn Ernits
Estonian Agricultural University, Tartu
Hans Peter Boye Jessen (1801-1875), a professor of Tartu Veterinary School, appeared to be one of the best-known specialists of cattle plague in the 19th century. He had the first contacts with the disease near Novgorod in 1825. He stated his basic opinion about the disease in a book published in 1834, which was based to a great extent on the opinions of his teacher Erik Nissen Viborg (1759-1822), the director of Copenhagen Veterinary School.
P. Jessen started to research cattle plague more intensively only in early 1850-ies when working at Tartu Veterinary School. In 1858 he was appointed a member of the committee, which was responsible for surveilling the vaccination against cattle plague in the Russian Empire. P. Jessen has published over 50 works on cattle plague (most of them have only historical value by now).
As the real reason for the etiology of virus diseases was then unknown, self-generation of such diseases was assumed. P. Jessen was sure that the self-generation of cattle plague is peculiar to the steppes of the South of Russia - in a region, which, according to P. Jessen was the place of origin for that disease. He assumed that through infected animals and their products the disease spread to other places. For the first time P. Jessen described cattle plague in goats (1836). By organising the research of cattle plague he considerably facilitated the research of the pathological morphology of cattle plague by Professor F. Brauell and other scientists. P. Jessen also supported the shortening of quarantine periods.
Most eager was P. Jessen at protecting cattle against the disease. He published a brochure on the subject in Tartu in 1852. In those days it was not known how to weaken the virulent qualities of pathogens. The success with smallpox vaccination encouraged scientists to inject blood, nose secretion etc. taken from infected animals to healthy cows as apreventive precaution.
P. Jessen initiated experiments on cattle plague vaccination in Russia in 1850-ies. At his proposal so-called plague stations were established in the steppe area of Russia (German Impfinstitute). The aim of these stations was to invent the best way of vaccination and the research of the duration of immunity. The first plague station was established in Karlovka, in the province of Poltava in 1857, which in 1860 was followed by a station in Bondarevka Estate in Herson district, and another one in Sterlitamak county in the district of Orenburg. Vaccination suggested by P. Jessen gave best results in the steppes, in moderate climate belt the results were poor. In general the results were quite unstable, whereas the inocculation of pathogenic material even triggered the spreading of the disease. The safest means was still the slaughtering of infected animals, which was suggested by J. Lancisi as early as in 1713.
The so-called plague injections were a stage of development of immunology. The time for elaborating methods for weakening the pathogens had not arrived yet. A new era in the development of immunology arrived soon after the death of Professor P. Jessen.
I would like to thank the Estonian Foundation of Science (grant No. 4110) and the South Sweden Department of Estonian Association of Science for supporting this research.
THE ART OF BIOGRAPHY: HENRIK J. STAFSETH
Ole H. V. Stalheim
College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Veterinary historiography includes annals, chronicles, and histories, but few full-length biographies with some notable exceptions. Henrik Joakim Stafseth (1890-1968) migrated from Norway to an Iowa farm, then began professional training at North Dakota State College and Michigan State University and fifty years of teaching, research, and innovative services to science, agriculture, and the public. By choosing wisely of his opportunities, he succeeded as father, citizen, and educator of over 5,000 students; studied abroad, participated in scientific and professional meetings, suggested and shaped policies, and published the results of his own intellectual initiatives and laboratory work in small, local publications at first, until his results appeared in journals of the most prestigious scientific organizations. His career reached a climax with three unique, solo assignments: to evaluate and make recommendations on problems at a world-class veterinary college; provide guidelines to the National Research Council for a new veterinary governmental agency to examine food products; and direct veterinary relief and rehabilitation in China for the United Nations, when he was instrumental in starting the first modern veterinary school still serving northwestern provinces.
HISTORY OF ARCHAEO-OSTEOLOGY AT UNIVERSITY OF VETERINARY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES BRNO
Václav Páral
Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences,Palackého 1/3, 612 42 Brno,Czech Republic, e-mail: paralv@vfu.cz
By archaeological researches are mostly found also animal bones or its fragments. For determination of these bones new scientific branch appeared. It was called archaeo-zoology or archeo-osteology and its foundations in Czech countries reach till the end of 19th century. Veterinary surgeon Florian Koudelka (1862-1921) from Vyškov determined large amount of animal bones and developed to perfection the method of calculation of the height of animals from the dimensions of their long bones. He emphasized the importance of evaluation of historical bones.
Forty years ago, several young scientists from Anatomical Institute of Veterinary Faculty in Brno began to develope this scientific branch. The best known of them was MVDr. Zdenek Kratochvíl, DrSc. (1938-1992). He determined and evaluated many thousands of animal bones especially from Mikulcice and Pohansko. His works are also known abroad. The publications of Dr. Šterba and Dr. Cervený (later professors at Anatomical Institute) are remarkable as well. Prof. Šterba was occupied with animal bones used in handworking and Prof. Cervený introduced and applied the method for finding of the age of cattle from Mikulcice. This method is based on evaluation of long bones radiographs.
Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology of our University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno and Archaeological Institutes have been still working on research projects and publications together.
PROFESSOR JAN BECKA AND HIS STILL USEFUL MAGNESIUM RESEARCH OF THE THIRTIES
Josef Hlásný
Research Institute for Cattle Breeding in Rapotín, 788 13 Vikýrovice, Czech Republic
Professor Jan Becka unjustly franks with the lesser known scientists engaged in the action of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the autonomic nervous system. He concluded (1929-1935), that the tonicity of the parasympathetic nervous system is maintained by Mg2+ and OH-: and that of the sympathetic system by Ca2+ and H+. Overdosage of Ca2+ (and H+) causes the inhibition of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system action prevails. Overdosage of the Mg2+ (and OH-) causes the inhibition of the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system prevails. So, he considered that the actual control is a negative feedback mechanism, and, importantly, professor Becka discovered that this mechanism is influenced by the dosage of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in connection with the acid-base state of animals.
We reviewed these more than 60 years known findings taking the porcine stress syndrome (PSS) as an example. As indicated by tachycardia, tachypnoea, hyperglycaemia, and increased blood catecholamine and cortizol concentrations the action of the sympathetic nervous system prevails in this condition.. This can be due to long term Mg-deficiency at a high dietary calcium supply, because PSS is a hypermetabolic syndrome that produces a sustained increase of intracellular Ca2+ levels, and, as the PSS progresses, the combination of Mg-deficiency with acidosis, triggers circulus viciosus which continues until serum K+ reaches cardiotoxic levels. It is generally known that without any systemic regulatory response, Mg deficiency would be associated with hyperkalaemia and intracellular deficiency of Mg2+ is thought to be responsible for a rise of Ca2+ in and loss of K+ from the cells. This mechanism is confirmed by recent findings, showing that prolonged feeding of a diet with a low Mg content during the growing-finishing period (5 mg of Mg per kg BW) reduced the effect of PSS, decreased plasma cortizol and catecholamine concentrations (the parasympathetic tonicity is maintained by homeopatic Mg doses). At the same way, also correction of acidosis PSS-affected pigs by bicarbonate administration and/or ventilatory support were useful. However, is well known from the published data that PSS results from a mutation in a calcium/channel gene that is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, usually in Landrace pigs. It seems that this genetic cause can be enhanced by Mg-deficiency. Therefore more details from experimental works of professor Becka will be presented to the Congress.
PARTICIPATIONS OF CZECH VETERINARIANS IN PROGRAMMES OF WHO
Matyáš, Z., Kolár, J., Matouch, O.
Nové námestí 10, CZ-621 00 Brno, Czech Republic
1. In 1949 Dr M.Kaplan, Chief of the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Word Health Organization in Geneva visited Czechoslovakia to learn more about the etiological agent of the newly emerged disease in pigs - Klobouk disease - particulary whether or not it is infectious also for human beings.
2. A team of Czech veterinarians and epidemiologists studied the possibilities of concerted surveillance, prevention and control of tuberculosis in both man and animals in Kolín district of Czechoslovakia. The project was planned and managed by WHO (Dr. K. Raška).
In 1960´s two Czech veterinarians became employees of WHO , namely Dr. J. Kolár a Prof. Dr. Z. Matyáš.
3. Dr. J. Kolár served in long - or shortterm WHO programmes from 1960´s to 1990´s, dealing with surveillance, prevention and control of zoonoses, namely brucellosis, rabies, in Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuweit, Lebanon, Syria and Portugal.
4. Prof. Dr. Z. Matyáš served as food hygienist of the WHO Headquarters from 1966 to 1972 and as chief Veterinary Public Health unit from 1977 to 1984. He initiated and managed several programmes in the fields of foodborne diseases and zoonoses and particularly : food virology programme, general principles of food hygiene, meat inspection, new methods for food hygiene control - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points - HACCP, WHO surveillance programme for control of foodborne infections and intoxications in Europe, intersectoral collaboration, health systém research in food hygiene, organization and management of food hygiene programmes and VPH programmes, primary health care concept in VPH programmes, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of veterinary students in VPH subjects. He also initiated a programme for elaboration and publication of guidelines on various food hygiene and zoonoses subjects,etc.
5. Numerous were Czech verinarians who colaborated with WHO in various programmes. Only examples are mentioned in this abstract: Dr. O. Matouch (rabies), Doc. Dr. V. Pleva, Doc. Dr. J. Menšík (comparative virology), Prof. Dr. J. Dražan (principles of education undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary students in VPH subject), Dr. J. Ohlídal (safe collection and disposal of animal waste).
60 YEARS OF THE VETERINARY AND CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC IN SLOVAKIA
Kamil Bolecek
State Veterinary Institute, SK-84252 Bratislava, Slovakia
The work places of veterinary labor and clinical diagnostic were and are an indispensable support for the workers of the veterinary carefulness in all sections of their activity, for agriculturists, animal breeders and workers of the animal production, workers of the food industry and producers of the food-stuffs of animal origin. These sections noted in Slovakia for the last 60 years an exceptional quantitative but especially qualitative development. Till 1939 there was no diagnostic work place in Slovakia, with the exception of the work places being busy with laboratory examinations of food-stuffs of animal origin. Since the work places were built up, they were engaged with personal and the laboratory methodic and work proceedings were introduced in them. In the presented book the activity in the mentioned sections is evaluated and at the same time the merits of the workers that deserved well of building up and development of these work sections are stressed. By their merit the veterinary service and also the agriculture in the period of evaluated 60 years achieved valuable results. The plans of recovering of the cattle breedings from brucelosis, tuberculosis, trichomonade contagion and other contagions, of the sow breedings from pest, dysentery and contagious paralysis, of the poultry breedings from pseudopest, cholera and salmonelosis etc. were realized.
An important role was played by the veterinary diagnostic work places by creating the common breedings of economic animals. By the measures used by extent preventive examinations of the materials from the animals the possibility of bringing in of contagions by concentrating of the animals into the common breedings was prevented by which the stabilization of the contagious situation was achieved.
The workers of diagnostic work places helped solve a lot of problems in large-scale breedings of cattle, sows and poultry from the point of view of large-scale production technology and zoohygiene. The diagnostic work places played an important role in the course of recovering of cattle breedings from brucelosis. On the basis of the results of extensive scientific-research works and laboratory examinations which the workers of veterinary institutes realized the measures for liquidation of contagion were made. In the initial periods of liquidation of brucelosis some thousand samples were examined yearly, but in the years 1963-1968, when the fight with this contagion culminated these numbers yearly exceeded one million.
The diagnostic veterinary work places also played an important role by the liquidation of cattle tuberculosis especially by the final stage when the hidden sources of contagion succeeded to reveal by the complex examination in time.
From the beginning the work places for laboratory diagnostic were oriented also on finding out of other contagious and also parasitical animal diseases. The diagnostic of virus diseases began at the end of 50th. Already at that time the diagnostic of for example fury, poultry pseudopest, poultry infection bronchitis but also of other contagions of the virus origin was made very well.
The workers of diagnostic work places helped solve the current problems in animal nourishment in the most critical years from the point of view of animal nourishment. The laboratory fodder analysis was provided in limited scale and orientated especially on the analysis from the point of view of their hygienic undefectivness. An increased attention was paid to their analysis and following the animal nourishment status was devoted especially in the years 1960-1990.
The diagnostic veterinary work places played and play an important role also in the section of hygienic-sanitary supervision by acquisition, processing and distribution of raw materials and food-stuffs of animal origin, especially of milk and milk products, meat and meat products of the fattened animals as well as of poultry, fish etc. By providing of complex examinations of raw materials and food-stuffs of animal origin, by extensive applying of advisory activity in the framework of agricultural works and works of food industry this section was and is in the framework of the veterinary diagnostic an important factor in the preventive protection of the manes health.
The total volume of the activities of veterinary diagnostic work places is high as it results from the presented numeric data. The millions of samples of various material were processed and examined, on which three times more laboratory analysis were made.
An important section which was and is provided by the veterinary diagnostic work places is the monitoring and help by the solution of the problems of diseases contagious from the animals on the man (zoonoses), as fury, tularemy, salmonelosis, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis etc.
The work places for clinical diagnostic built-up as veterinary hospitals and first-aid stations played by the development of the veterinary carefulness an important role. They provided not only a hospital and ambulant healing of ill animals, but they were also a school for the students of the veterinary medicine and veterinary doctors from the paxis. The activity of the work places for the clinical diagnostic and therapy can be divided in: examination, treatment and healing of ill animals in institute and ambulant form, in preventive clinical examinations of animals, including the verification of newly introduced medical drugs, in elaboration and verification of new methods of healing, in clinical-laboratory diagnostic, in verification of new methods of clinical-laboratory diagnostic and others.
At the end of 60th the clinical laboratories began to be built by the individual veterinary hospitals and first-aid stations. Their activity was orientated on laboratory examinations, necessary for determination, completion, resp. specification of clinical diagnosis. The clinical-laboratory examinations were orientated on determination of metabolic defects, verification of the reasons of sterility by female and male animals and defects in fertilization of milk cows, in hematologic depistage of leucosis of cattle. X-ray examination of hissing disease of sows, investigation of level ofvitamines and mineral substances in animal organism, diagnostic of mastitides of milk cows, clarification of reasons of diseases of young animals etc.
By activity development evaluation of the work places for the clinical diagnostic and therapy (of veterinary hospitals and firstaid stations) it is possible to state that the institute treatment activity which prevailed in the first years of the buildingup of hospitals and first-aid stations was reoreintated gradually on mass clinical and healing activity directly in the animal breedings. The attention was paid to investigation of defects in animal reproduction, diagnostic, removal and prevention of defects in nourishment, clarifying and removal of reasons of the losses by the young animals, reasons of falling ill of the motion apparatus of animals etc. The results showed that this reorientation of the activities of the work places for clinical diagnostic and therapy was correct.
Simultaneously with development the work places for veterinary lobaratory and clinical diagnostic and therapy were completed with stuff. It can be also seen from the fact that in 1948 20 workers worked in veterinary diagnostic work places and in the year of nationalization of veterinary service (1951) together 38 workers, for the last forty years the number of workers in the sections of laboratory and clinical diagnostic achieved every year about 500 workers.
In the present times the sections of the veterinary laboratory and clinical diagnostic can be put on outstanding place also in the international scale. Not only the quantities of examined material, the arts and extent of various examinations and analysis, achieved results, but also the social importance of this work by the prevention and damping of animal diseases, by securing the production of hygienicly undefective and biologically valuable food-stuffs and raw materials of animal origin, etc. in present Slovakia witness of it.
MENDELISM IN ANIMAL BREEDING AS DEVELOPED BY PROF. LEOPOLD FRATEUR, LOUVAIN (1877-1946)
André Gobin
Livingstonelaan 862, NL-3526 JL Utrecht
Leopold FRATEUR started his scientific career one hundred years ago, in 1899, as professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, in charge of the Zootechnology course at the Agricultural Institute. The Belgian Agricultural Department and the Belgian Association of Zootechnology ordered FRATEUR to investigate the importance of applying the Mendelian laws of heredity for the improvement of cattle breeding in Belgium. He undertook a study tour to important Academic Centres of Zootechnology in Europe.
FRATEUR was a protagonist of the theories of Mendelian heredity. We do not know at what point the (rediscovered in 1900) writings of MENDEL came to FRATEUR's knowledge. For the application of the Mendelian theory on the breeding of new characteristics of animal races he consulted professor WILHELM JOHANNSEN at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
In the early years of the century, FRATEUR conducted field-research in order to determine the characteristics of the cattle livestock in Belgium. In 1908 he established the Institute of Zootechnology at Leuven, where he conducted experimental research on heredity for 28 years, until his retirement in 1936.
In 1909 appeared his first paper on the application of MENDEL's heredity laws in breeding: 'On heredity'. From further research on heredity and its application in 'the creation and improvement of new races of domestic animals and plants', he published about twenty five more papers, recently published by GOBIN as collected papers: 'Scientific improvement of domestic races' vol. 2,1999, 475pp.
In FRATEUR's experimental research on heredity of domestic animals, main lines can be recognized: 1) The analysis of simple and complex heredity factors, in particular these of cattle, rabbits and the plumage of poultry; 2) The study of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of heredity, which are of importance for the improvement of animal races; 3) The synthesis of genetic factors from the different stock in order to obtain new races with stable characteristics, which would improve the yield (e.g. production of milk, eggs, and meat); 4) Theoretical study of the relation between phenotype and genotype and the influence of environmental factors (climate, food, disease); 5) Theoretical exploration of the issue of variability and modification of newly formed race characteristics (1937); 6) Research leading to an explanation of the phenomenon of Telegony (1917), and of Modifications such as Atavism (1939, 1945); 7) The formulation of a theory on the creation of new races in domestic animals and plants races, and the relation between race and species (1933, 1937).
He was responding to problems with experimental research on the topical needs. For example he determined the causal factor of pullorum epidemic in chicken farming (1913) and he investigated the hereditary resistance against diphtheritic infection amongst chickens (1924).
FRATEUR took the theoretical knowledge on heredity as a starting point for practical application in cattle breeding and stock improvement. He wrote two documents on the policy of re-establishment of the Belgian livestock (in 1915 and 1918), stating that the current scientific knowledge is enough advanced to consider the start of a large breeding programme for the improvement of the cattle races. In order to realise this reinstatement at a national scale, FRATEUR received important support by the Belgian authorities (Royal decree, August 1919). From 1919 onwards, he focussed his efforts on the realisation of a national framework for improvement of Cattle livestock, in collaboration with regional Centers and Societies for the improvement of animal Selection, Breeding and Production. FRATEUR and his Institute of Zootechnology, provided for the necessary scientific and technical guidance. During the twenties, FRATEUR also started to improve Chicken breeding, and soon later Pig breeding, again as a joint effort with Consultants from the government, and breeding Organisations. Not only was he the architect of the renewal, he also had a chair in the governing bodies, supervising the execution and control of the breeding programme.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
PROFESSOR FRANTIŠEK KRÁL AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC CINEMATOGRAPHY IN BRNO
Petr Knáva
Šumavská 36, 602 00 Brno
In the second half of the 19th century the efforts for the documentation of the motion phenomena for the next research culminated above all in France. Marey´s Physiology Institut in Paris became the research center. This institute associated many important scientific personalities from the whole Europe. The speed of film shooting reached its maximum in 1912. It means the possibility to shoot 2000 pictures in one second, almost 500 m/sec. The first scholar, interrested in the motion studies, in Bohemia was J.E. Purkyne (1787-1896). He was said to be the inventor of the kinesiskop, the instrument for the presentation of the motion, for example man´s heart etc., in the 60th of the 19th century. The significant Czech plant physiologist Dr. Bohumil Nemec visited the prof. W. Pfeffer´s institut in Leipsic in 1898. At that time prof. Pfeffer demonstrated the plant´s grow and movements with the means of the film projector. He was followed by prof. Dr. Vladimír Úlehla at the Masaryk University in Brno in 1921. Besides him prof. MVDr. František Král created the second important scientific and pedagogic institute at the Veterinary University in Brno. In 1920 he started to use the film camera and projector in the veterinary research and pedagogical work.
THE VETERINARY FILMS OF FRANTIŠEK KRÁL AS THE FILMS EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC & RESEARCHAL
Zdenek Smejkal
Kneslova 16, 61800 Brno
F. Král bought a current Ernemann camera in 1920 and he was making film with it till the mid 30ies. Right in 1921, he made a film named "Rinderpest in Poland", a vivid demonstration of this infectious illness on a live organism. He has concipated the film as educational (hemade the commentary himself). When the Ministry of Agriculture has advanced a great preventional action, the film was used as an instructions' aid.
In the mid 20ies, Král made a film named "Lyssa" - by dog, cat, cow and horse. The author has caught the clinical symptoms and the course of the illness in different forms (quiet, stormy, paralytical). And hee was going to add to this film also a record of the illmess by man, but before he managed to reach the pacient, that one had always died. This film was accepteed with an exceptional interest by pathologists, there was a broad thesis in Berliner und Münchener tierarztlicher Wochenschrift and the film was bought as a teaching aid for many universities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holand, France, England, Izrael, USA etc.
Another Král's film, "Glanders", has reached almost the same popularity. Král has recorded the symptoms, course, postmorem changes, clinical diagnose and the lab tests of this illness.
It was not earlier than in 1936, when Král bought a new French camera for a lower move, but he has used it to made only few shots of dog and horse walking, trotting and galloping. It is necessary to stress that all the Král's films are black&white and dumb.
Finally, when working at the Pensylvania University in Philadelphia in 1949-1963, he was using coloured and phonic film. There are only few reports on these films. Král himself has mentioned only a half-hour film dealing the dermal illness. It is evident that there is a bigger distinctive ability at this illness and the film is more conclusive therefore. The film was used not only in Philadelphia and USA, but also at many scientific symposiums in Canada, Mexico, Brasil, Switzerland etc.
THE ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN VETERINARIANS, 50 YEARS OF GRIT, GRACE, GUMPTION AND GOOD HUMOR
It will be introduced by Suan D. Jones.
Abstract not received.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
THE GENERAL ASPECTS OF DECREASING OF COWS LEUCOSIS IN LATVIA
Petrova A., Jemeljanovs A., Bluzmanis J.
Latvian Agriculture University, Reseach Center "Sigra"
Leucosis in the cattle herds of Latvia for the first time was registered in 1924. However, the registration of big animals was established in the beginning of 1958. The number of animals with leucosis in Latvia grew from 177 cattle in 1958 to 1047 dairy cattle in 1965.
Among the registered 378 breeding bulls, 50 were eliminated during 9 years (1960-1968) due to leucosis.
Leucosis was diagnosed using quantitative-haematological and clinical tests which were not absolutely precise because of the presence of aleukaemic reticulesis up to 20-25 per cent among the affected animals, and also because of the inclusion up to 38-40 per cent of the dairy cattle with different chronical processes in the number of the affected by leucosis.
The analyses of 114 the dairy cattle families in the research farm "Sigulda" showed that 54 families (47,3 per cent) are ill with leucosis, 40 (35 per cent) are healthy and 20 families (17,5 per cent) are suspected of being affected. After the discovery of the leucosis virus, tests of polymorphism in blood showed that among the affected animals carriers of allalies BO1, BO1Y2D', O1, Y2F'G' are found 1,3-1,5 times more rarely, and carriers of allalies BY2G'P'G'' and BP' - 2 times more rarely than among the healthy ones. It was also noted that the animals decrease of the disease for more than 3 times.
However, observations showed that in 3-4 years after the convalescence of the herds with allalies Y2A'D'E1, BGO1, BI1Q were not affected at all.
From 1966 till 1975 in Latvia clinically-haematological researches were carried out in the group of all the grown-up cattle above 1 year of age (1 million blood tests). It resulted in a affected animals appeared again in several of them.
In 1978 besides the haemotogenic analyses it was suggested to use also blasttransformation of lymphocytes which at the level of 35 per cent confirmed the haematological diagnoses.
In the beginning of the eighties the detection of the leucosis virus infection in the cattle herds on the basis of serological researches, were studied thoroughly as an additional test of diagnostics.
From the range of the research methods - RID (the reaction of immunodifusion), RSK (the reaction of bounding complements), RIF (the reaction of immunofluorescence), RIP (the reaction of radioimmunoprescipitation), CTR (cytotoxic reaction), ELISA (immunofermentic method) - the RID in Latvia was recognised as the most easy to use.
In the studies of the histocompatibility antigen spectrum for healthy and leucosis-affected cows, it was determined that BoLA-antigens A3, A5, A7, A9w10, A11w15, A16, A19w44, A25 are associated with susceptibility to leucosis.
The production of liquid inactivized cattle leucosis vaccines started on 1985 and on 1986 the tests were started with experimental kinds of leucosis vaccines. Since 1990 production and testing in experimentaly-industrial series was started which protected the immunizated animals from infection in 85-100 per cent of cases.
On January 1st, 2000 0,4 per cent of the cattle in Latvia were registered as affected by leucosis because the reduction of the cattle herds in the beginning of the nineties made it possible to slaughter the animals with the positive reaction for the RID test.
HEALTH HEREDITY CONTROL IN LIVESTOCK IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Jaromíra Ondrášková, Jaroslav Slapnicka
State Veterinary Institute - department of genetics, Brno, Czech Republic
As early as in the sixties the report justifying establishment of health heredity control in livestock in the Czech Republic was drawn up in initiative of leading veterinarians from the research (Dr. Lojda), science and education (Dr. Labík) and veterinary practise (Dr. Mikuláš).
"Methodics of performance of health control and health heredity control" was published in relevant instructions of the State Veterinary Administration of the Ministry for Agriculture and Nourishment. This metodics was the implementing and methodical base ensuring genetical prevention in the field of genetical veterinary pathology, genetical resistance and cytogenetics in livestock population.
The requirement of the established breeding procedures and practise was to ensure relevant hereditary health in breeding animals especially after 1973, when insemination with deep frozen semen was largely carried out in the Czech Republic. The hygienic requirements on semen and on hereditary health of livestock became very important after introduction of technology of insemination with deep frozen semen and under the circumstances of increased international exchange of semen.
To ensure all activities and tasks resulting from principles of applied veterinary genetics, the State Veterinary Administration established The Reference Centre for Health Heredity Control in 1968 and independent Institute of Veterinary Genetics in Brno 20 years later, in 1988.
The main activity in health heredity control in bovine animals and pigs is aimed at ensuring of:
- data collection on clinical signs of health status (including diseases and defects) of livestock from field veterinary practisioners;
- target testing of breeding bulls (sires) and boars as regards of transmission of hereditary defects and health disorders;
- laboratory examinations (chromosomal and genom analyses);
- drawing up of professional opinions on breeding animals exploatation in breeding procedures.
Currently the State Veterinary Institute - department of genetics, follower of the former Institute of Veterinary Genetics, is entrusted with keeping the central register of congenital defects in bovine animals in the Czech Republic. This congenital defect database is an important source of information on genetic defects in bovine animal population and it contains information obtained since 1971; new cases are continually recorded.
These data and information are provided to all persons and institutions involved in improvement and breeding on their request. These data are used in selection of breeding bulls - fathers of the next generation of breeding bulls, in selection of mothers of breeding bulls and in selection of breeding animals used for breeding.
MOLECULAR CYTOGENETICS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Jirí Rubeš, Petra Musilová, Miluše Vozdová, Svatava Kubícková, Olga Rezácová, Dagmar Zudová, Halina Cernohorská
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 32 Brno, Czech Republic
During the past 30 years that have elapsed since the first description of chromosomal aberrations in farm animals was published, the dramatic advancement in farm animal cytogenetics paralleled that of human cytogenetics. The Department of Genetics of the Veterinary Research Institute has been engaged in farm animal cytogenetics for many years. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the methodological level of the Department and its results. To date, sixteen genes have been localised on porcine chromosomes by physical mapping. We have been the first to quantitate by fluorescence in situ hybridisation the incidence of aneuploidies in porcine spermatozoa and oocytes. Cytogenetic methods have been implemented within investigations of effects of genotoxic agents on farm animals in severely polluted industrial regions of the Czech Republic. A significant advancement in animal cytogenetics has been promoted by the implementation of laser microdissection and preparation of DNA probes. Close collaboration with human cytogeneticists has already yielded several priority results, such as determination of aneuploidies in human spermatozoa by FISH, use of painting DNA probes for the assessment of occupational exposure to genotoxic agents, and use of molecular methods in prenatal diagnostics.
SLOVAK WOMEN AND VETERINARY MEDICINE
Jantošovic, J., Sokol, J.,* Pokorný, J.,** Sabolová, G.,** Vrabec, V.
University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice
*State Veterinary Administration of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava
**Institute of Postgradual Education of Veterinary Surgeons, Košice
In many countries, there is a continuous conflict between formal and real level of the women's rights in the society. Women have pointed to the fact that finding their place in a lot of branches as well as in political life is still very low. It is not, however, valid at the end of the 20th century.
In the recent decades, women penetrate the non-traditional professions of human activities. Recently, this historical social process has been accelerated all over the world. As well, it is in veterinary medicine - traditionally man's profession (Böhm, 1986). The number of girls studying and graduating veterinary medicine has risen since 60's also in Slovakia. This is one of pronounced signs of changes in the development of our profession after the World War II.
In this connection, it is necessary to state several historical data that elucidate a long and difficult way at overcoming traditional opinions on the veterinary profession concerning women. According to Siewert (1964) in 1821 Mária Möller as the first women successfully passed veterinary examination at the Veterinary Institute in Marburg. The former supreme Health Committee protested against permission for women to perform veterinary practice. The Home Office ordered that it is not permitted to employ women as veterinary surgeons in Hessen. In 1888 the degree of veterinary medicine was given to Jadwiga Dzyminska from Poland at the Veterinary School in Curagham, Belgium (Millak, 1960). Rinesh (1998) reported that Maria Kaspierwich from Russia was the first European woman who graduated at the Veterinary College in Alfort in 1896.
The first Slovak woman who started to study veterinary medicine in Vienna in 1943 was Adela Jeleníková. She finished her studies at the Veterinary College in Brno on 29.9.1947 and she graduated on 6.1.1948.
In next years, the number of graduating girls has increased in sixties from 10.3% to 16.5 in seventies up to 47.7 in 1997. Even more pronounced increase in their number can be seen in the discipline Hygiene of Foodstuffs, which was established in Košice in 1975 and the first graduates finished in 1980. Here the representation of women is very high and in the last decade it has ranged from 64.0% to 95.0%.
A lot of women graduates remain to work at the university as university teachers or research workers. At present, at the university there are 144 teachers of which there are 55 women, what represents 38.1%. Representation of women in individual categories of teachers is as follows: professor - 11.7%, associate professor - 30.4%, senior lecturer - 48.7%. In research the ratio is turned over - here 72.9% women and 28.1% men work.
A substantial part of women - veterinary surgeons work in the state administration in the field of veterinary care. Of the total 822 veterinarians 318 women (38.68%) work in the State veterinary administration of the Slovak Republic - in district and regional veterinary administrations. The highest representation of women, almost 83.2% of the total 268 veterinary empoyees, work in specialized veterinary organizations.
As well, women - veterinarians find their place in the scientific-research institutions such as Parasitological Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences - 43.75%, Institute of Physiology of Farm Animals - 16.69% and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine - 48.83%. The lowest representation of women was recorded in private veterinary surgeons, where women are represented by 9.06% of the total 938 members of the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Slovak Republic.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CZECH WOMAN VETERINARY STAFF - FROM ZERO TO 46 PER CENT
Jaroslav Kábrt
Professor emeritus of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
The first Czech women graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Zurich University in 1880 and subsequently worked in Bosnia. Women have been admitted to faculties of medicine in the Austrian part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy since 1900. No women were enrolled at the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine before 1918.
The proportion of women studying at the High School of Veterinary Medicine in Brno, established in 1918, was fairly below 1% in the inter-war period of 1918 - 1939. This situation was also reflected in the design of new premises finished in the early thirties in which no separate ladies' lavatories were considered.
The first Czech women to obtain the diploma in veterinary medicine was the 1926 graduate from the Brno High School Vilma Šeplová-Pechácková (1899-1929). She married a veterinarian, but died soon of complications upon her first delivery. In 1930, she was followed by Marie Hromádková-Sveráková (1906-1985) who became the first women awarded the academic degree "Doctor of Veterinary Medicine" (MVDr.) granted to graduates who successfully defended their thesis. She also married a veterinarian, specialized in food hygiene under the guidance of senior lecturer Hans Messner in Carlsbad, and worked in the Luhacovice spa.
In 1939-1945, all Czech high schools were closed by the Nazis. After the second world war, the percentage of female graduates from the Brno High School (later Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, currently the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno) increased stepwise from 4% in 1960 to 14% in 1970 and 1980, and 25% in 1990. Forty-five per cent of the latter were graduates from the Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology. The two oldest women veterinarians living in the Czech Republic were born in 1923.
Marie Hojovcová in 1986 and Dagmar Ježková in 1982 were the first women veterinarians to be appointed senior lecturer (in buiatrics) and professor (in physiology), respectively. Currently, the numbers of female students exceed those of male students in all the classes of both the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology.
WHO WAS OLGA BORISOVNA LEPESHINSKAYA?
Šárka Hejlová
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
Olga Borisovna Lepeshinskaya was born in Perm (later re-named to Molotov), Russia, in 1871. At the age of 16, she completed a course for midwifes and other paramedical professions in St. Petersburg. In 1915, she finished a medical course for women, obtained the field surgeon's certificate, and was appointed assistant lecturer at the Chair of Therapy of the Moscow University. After a short stay at the Tashkent University in 1919, she returned to the Moscow University in 1920. In 1926, she joined the K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Biology as a histologist and in 1941 she was appointed head of the Department of Live Matter of the Institute of Experimental Biology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Her life ran out in 1963.
For several years and side by side with the omnipotent coryphaeus of the Soviet science Tofim Denisovitch Lysenko, Lepeshinskaya carried on a tenacious struggle against an influential group of scientists. Her intransigent and persistent attitude was directed against the actual interests and objectives of science not only in the Soviet Union, but also in its satellite countries, such as Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, and Poland. What was the essence of the Lepeshinskaya's "discovery"?
The German scientist R. Virchow backed up and further elaborated the idea that new cells rise exclusively by propagation of the already existing cells as expressed by the slogan "Each cell rises from another cell". Lepeshinskaya claimed that the results of her research are an evidence of non-validity of principles of the cellular theory and that the actual carrier of vital processes is unorganized "live matter". She believed whole-heartily that her "discovery" inflicted an oppressive blow to the most important achievement in biology of the 19th century, specifically to the cellular theory, and that only the obdurate and ignorant virchowians (weismannians, mendelians, morganians) are not ready to accept it.
In 1950, the Section of Biological Sciences of the Academy of Medical Sciences convened a special session on the topic "Live matter and cell development" to which carefully selected scientists were invited. The session was presided over by Academician Alexander Ivanovitch Oparin. The cardinal speech, presented by Lepeshinskaya, was full of crude insults adressed to virchowians and political demagogy shielded with references to marxist-leninist literature and Stalin's ideas. It is known now that probably the only participant of this session believing in her ideas was the ignoramus Academician T.D. Lysenko. In his speech, he quoted the elementary axiom of his doctrine that "rye can develop from wheat".
The session eventually arrived at the conclusion that the results of Lepeshinskaya's research are of revolutionary significance to the science. Lepeshinskaya was characterised as a prominent scientist, was elected member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and was awarded Stalin's price. All teachers of medical faculties were instructed to refer to Lepeshinskaya's doctrine in each lecture; adherence to this order was strictly supervised.
One can ask now what was the power that made scientists play such a disgraceful role. As a matter of fact, the affair of Lepeshinskaya was not but an example of instruments used by the stalinist regime for wilful massive moral degradation of the society. It would be really difficult to find a person who discredited the Soviet science more effectively than Lepeshinskaya. Eventually, her doctrine was silently condemned to oblivion and current dictionaries do not list her among scientists any more.
References are available from the author.
DATA REGARDING THE INCIDENCE OF TRICHINELLOSIS IN ROMANIA UNTIL 1940
Dumitru Curca
Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Splaiul Independentei Nr.105, 76201 Bucharest-Romania
In Romania, the first trichinellosis case in man was reported by Dr. Schreiber in 1868 in the corpse of a patient who had died in a hospital in Bucharest; upon necropsy, all the muscles, except for that of heart and viscera, were infected with T. spiralis. In 1869 (Dr. Kopernitzky) and in 1870 (Dr. Schreiber) another two trichinellosis cases were reported. In 1874, Dr. Brânza described a trichinellosis epidemic in Iasi that involved three fatalities, and in 1875 he reported another case. Prof.Victor Babes (1906) reported a trichinellosis case during an autopsy when after 21 years since infection numerous cysts with calcified capsules were found, many of them having live larvae; using these larvae, Prof. Paul Riegler managed to reproduce experimental infection on mice and rabbits. In 1907 - 1908, Prof. Paul Riegler diagnosed three trichinellosis cases among the corpses in the dissection room at the Faculty of Human Medicine; as the corpses had been preserved in formol, the non-calcified larvae were dead, therefore experimental infection of mice, guinea pigs and rabbits was unsuccessful. In 1917, Prof. Vasiliu reported in Bacau the presence of trichinellosis in three persons who had eaten raw and smoked pork fillet; in a fragment of the fillet, Prof. Paul Riegler detected a high number of encapsulated trichinae. In 1921, Prof. Obreja reported eighteen trichinellosis cases and one fatality caused by Trichinella following consumption of pork; Prof. Paul Riegler found numerous trichinae in the meat. In February 1933, a trichinellosis epidemic burst in Târnava Mare county, three infection foci being involved: Medias parish - seven persons; two workers from a sausage factory; the third focus was Bârtan parish where ten pupils (females) from orphanage had trichinellosis after eating pork.
The first case of trichinellosis in animals was reported in a dog (1908) by Prof. C.I. Parhon. In 1909, Prof. I. Ciurea described a trichinellosis case in a cat. In 1910, Dr. Popa Paun found a 1.3% incidence of trichinellosis in rats in Bucharest. In 1913, the first trichinoscopes were used in Romania in a slaughter house in Bucharest, where the first trichinellosis cases among swine were described by Dr. Curhansky and Dr. Diaconu. In 1913-1914, Dr. Gh. Constantinescu-Mangalia, while examining in the slaughter house in Bucharest 41,019 slaughtered pigs, collected from various regions of Romania, found seven infected pigs (0.017%). Between 1 October 1914 and 1 July 1915, in the slaughter house in Bucharest 67,308 slaughtered pigs were examined at trichinoscope, 60 pigs being found infected (0.08%). In the slaughter house in Braila where trichinoscopes had been installed in 1914, 22 trichinellosis cases were identified among 8,104 slaughtered pigs (0.27%). In 1929, Dr. E. Celan while investigating the incidence of trichinellosis in the slaughter house in Bucharest, found a 0.133% frequency, in the slaughter house in Kishinev a frequency of 0.205% and no trichinellosis cases in the slaughter house in Timisoara. In 1930, Dr. Cernaianu performed an autopsy in 24 pet cats and found three cats infected with Trichinella. In 1934, Dr. Ureche showed that the incidence of trichinellosis located at heart muscle level was of 2.38% in the infected pigs. In 1935, Dr. Vasile Talos, reported a trichinellosis incidence of 9.33% among the dogs in Bucharest, located in the following muscles: cervical, gluteal, diaphragmatic, laryngeal and humeral. In 1939, Dr. A. Lupu made a statistics of trichinellosis incidence in the slaughter house in Bucharest and found that in 1938 the infection degree had been of 0.08%; based on the origin, he reached the conclusion that the incidence was highest among the pigs from Basarabia.
FIRST OBSERVATIONS ON MONODACTYLISM (SYNDACTYLISM) IN SWINE MADE BY PROFESSOR C.N. VASILESCU BETWEEN 1890-1894
Dumitru Curca
Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Splaiul Independentei Nr.105,76201 Bucharest-Romania
Prof. Constantin N. Vasilescu was born in 1854 and he graduated The School of Veterinary Medicine in 1878, working in zootehny (animal breeding) afterwards, in Dolj/Jiu counties, until 1883.
Between 1884-1887 he specializes in this field in France, with Prof. Baron, and then In Hungary, in the Mezöhegyes stud.
In 1888 he becomes a professor at the Zootechny Department, winning the contest (Hygiene and Agronomy) from the Superior School of Veterinary Medicine.
The most important paper performed by Prof. C.N. Vasilescu was in Genetics, about the way of hereditary transmission of monodactylism (syndactylism) In swine. He noticed the phenomenon since he worked in Dolj county, 1878-1883.
He tried to collaborate with Prof. Baron from Alfort France about this item, but the animals sent in 1891 died on the way.
In Romania, Prof. C.N. Vasilescu began the experiments by himself in 1889, thus succeeding to obtain the 10th generation of piglets, 5 piglets from a sow, all monodactyls, meaning that he obtained in several years homozygous piglets, which showed syndactylism. The anomaly shows the fusing of two toes from all the limbs, which made the walking difficult because of the pains during it.
The results of his experiments were published in the Journal de Médecine Vétérinaire et de Zootechnie de Lyon, in May 1896, and made great fuss among the specialists.
Only in 1900, the laws of Gregor Mendel, which he had already mentioned in 1866, were rediscovered by 3 specialists, through experiments on plants, independently;
Hugo de Vries (Netherlands) - 14th of March, Karl Correns (Germany) - 25th of April and Erich von Tschermak (Austria) - 2nd of June, thus bringing their contribution to the modern Genetics appearance.
Prof. C.N. Vasilescu can be considered the first scientific researcher in the world, which made investigations on mammals and used statistics.
In 1895, Prof. C.N. Vasilescu took part at the VIth International Congress of Veterinary Medicine which took place in Bern-Switzerland and for his merits he was chosen vice-president.
He died in 1902, aged only 48.
Pigs with full hoof have existed and exists isolated, since long ago, especially in Iberian breed, which exists in meridional area of Europe. The modification which can be considered anomalous (hereditary anomaly) (a dominant gene or as a teratology situation, called syndactyli.
Prof. C.N. Vasilescu noticed this anomaly in piglets from Maia village, Ilfov County. Verifying afterwards the way of hereditary transmission, in the first set of experiments he mated syndactyl males with a normal female, obtained 22 piglets, 5 were monodactyls, 2 were males and 6 females, and from the 14 normal piglets, 5 were males and 9 females.
From the first generation he took a pair of monodactyls and he isolated it, and at 10 months of age he mated sow born 4 piglets (3 monodactyls and 1 normal).
To continue his observations, Prof. C.N. Vasilescu brought a pair of monodactyls from 2nd generation, at the Superior School of Veterinary Medicine. After covering and pregnancy, at the 5th of September 1890, he obtained 7 piglets, from which 5 monodactyls (2 males and 3 females) and 2 normals (a male and a female).
Afterwards he mated a monodactyl male with a monodactyl female, and in April 1891 he obtained 7 piglets, from which 6 monodactyls(3 males and a female) and 1 normal. From this generation, he sent to Prof. Baron at Alfort, France a pair of piglets in order to continue the studies, but unfortunately they died on the way. From this date, the pigs were let to met freely. At the 9th of November 1891, a sow from the IInd generation born 5 piglets, from which 4 monodactyls (3 males and a female) and a normal female piglet, which represented the IVth generation.
H. VASILIU FIRST ROMANIAN SCIENTIST, PREVIOUSLY SIGNALLED THE HELICAL STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN
D. Curca, L.M. Buruiana
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Splaiul Independentei, Nr. 105, 76201 Bucharest, Romania
Romanian scientist who deserves to be known was H. Vasiliu, professor of chemistry at the Agronomical Institute of Iassy. In a work which I previously signaled in 1936, he proposed a helical structure for the polypeptide chains in proteins, polyoside chains in carbohydrate molecules and triglycerides. The following figures show the aspect of the protein helix deviced by H. Vasiliu in comparison with that later proposed by L. Pauling et al. in 1951. The resemblance is striking.
The Romanian author also calculated the pitch of the protein helix which he found to be of 5 Ĺ, very close to the value established by Pauling (5.03-5.4 Ĺ). The number of amino acids of one helix turn is equal to 3.6, according to H. Vasiliu in comparison with 3.7 found by Pauling et al. (1951). The stabilization of the helix is realized after H. Vasiliu by the Van der Waals forces which are similar with the hydrogen bonds as proposed by Pauling. The protein helixes can associate themselves giving thin layers or pellicles, as they are called by the author. This association realized by means of -COOH, -OH, -NH2, or -NH groups in a very similar way with the "pleated sheet" deviced by Pauling.
This helical structure proposed by H.Vasiliu explained for the first time the impossibility of beta- and gamma aminoacids to be incorporated in the polypeptide chains and infirmed the existence of the dicetopiperazinic, and amidinopiperazinic cycles postulated by N. D. Zelinski and N. I. Gavrilov. He hypothesized the existence of "open cycles", fact confirmed today.
The helical structure of proteins could also explain, in H. Vasiliu's opinion, the existence of lyophilic and lipophilic regions in the protein molecule, according to the distribution of -CO and -NH2- arylic and alkylic groups along the polypeptidic chains and so the: electric polarity. He also underlines the important role which could be played, by the roentgenographic measurements to elucidate the spatial arrangement of natural and artificial polymers.
All the consequences presumed by H. Vasiliu, due to the helical structure of protein, have been confirmed afterwards by many contributors. H. Vasiliu extended his hypothesis also in the case of carbohydrates.
The different values of the parameters of the carbohydrate helix were calculated by means of inter-atomic distances and of the valence angles of oxygen atoms by H. Vasiliu. They are surprisingly exact. For example the pitch of starch helix has been found to be 2.1 Ĺ, in comparison with 1.9 Ĺ in the case of agarose roentgenographically determined.
The spatial arrangement of starch and cellulose explains, according to H. Vasiliu, the difference in the resistance of these two polymers in the hydrolysis process. H. Vasiliu also proposed a spatial structure of a triglyceride, in which the fatty acids are arranged in spirals with a 1.4 Ĺ inner ray, the three bonds -CO-O- with glycerine being situated in a plane above the three helixes of fatty acids, which explains the polarity of : the triglyceride molecule and the formation of thin layers on the water surface. This problem unsettled yet could profit largely from the hypothesis made by Vasiliu and it will be very useful to clarify the role and structure of lipids in biomembranes.
It was our duty to make known the contributions to biochemistry of these exceptional Romanian men of science and we believe that they deserve a place in the history of this science.
PROF. DR. PAVEL ADAMI - LIFE AND WORK
Štefan Filo, Gabriela Sabolová
Institute of Postgradual Education of Veterinary Surgeons, Košice, Slovakia
Prof. Adami - the first pioneer in the field of infectious diseases of domestic animals research work in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy - was born 8. 1. 1736 in Beluša, village in the Trencin district, Slovakia.
He graduated from medicine at Wien University. He was interested in animal's diseases especially in the cattle plague. He was among the first who remarked to the necessity of veterinary education improving and to the inavoidablenees of veterinary schools for civil servants and farmers foundation.
Agriculture in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was on the low level in the XVIII and XIXth century but it had been rapidly developed because of growing demand of food. Demand of food was brought about economic situation , mainly lot of wars and revolts. Together with expansion of plant production herds of domestic animals-especially cattle and pigs - were increased. As the result of large people and animal movement animal's contamination diseases (especially cattle plague) was transferred very easily. For that reason the imperial court in Wien was forced to search ways for repression and elimination of these diseases.
As the result of this stage above mentioned courses and schooling were organized. Cattle plague laid heavy on the physicians and some of them became specialists- veterinary surgeons. On this way new epizootology departments of Medicine Schools were set up and later single Veterinary Universities were established.
Slovak physician prof. Adami administrated Epizootology Department of Faculty of Medicine on Wien University and later he was charged to found and run Epozootology Department of Faculty of Medicine on Krakow University. He wrote number or outstanding publications, from which we can mention:
- Beyträge zur Geschichte der Viehseuchen in den k.k. Erbländer.
- Untersuchung und Geschichte der Rindviehseuchen, die im Herzogthum Steyermark in Jahre 1779 und 1780 Herrschte.
- Untersuchung und Geschichte der Viehseuchen in den k.k. Erbländern.
- Vorsichten und Mittel wider die Viehseuche.
Prof. Adami elaborated not only infectious diseases diagnostics but also suitable precautions. He was very interested in new therapeutic ways. His work outgrew Austro-Hungarian border and its historical period. Many of his recommendations have been valid and valuable to nowadays. And it is a prove of his endowment which became of veterinary medicine corner stone.
PROF. DR. FRANTIŠEK HUTYRA WAS BORN 140 YEARS AGO
Jantošovic, J., Pokorný, J.,* Kozák, M., Vrabec, V.
University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice, Slovak Republic
*Institute of Postgradual Education of Veterinary Surgeons, Košice
This year it will have passed 140 years from the birth of Prof. MUDr. et med. Vet. Dr.h.c. František Hutyra, an outstanding teacher, scientist, who to a great extent, gained recognition for the development of veterinary education, science and veterinary health-service institution in the former Austria-Hungary.
He was born on October 7, 1860 at Sivá Brada near Spišské Pohradie in the Reast Slovakian region. After his school-leaving examination he decided to study medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Budapest, where he graduated in 1883. There, he worked as an assistant at the Institute of Pathological Anatomy.
In 1886 he came to work to the Patho-anatomical department of the Veterinary Institute in Budapest, where he also got his veterinary degree. In 1883 he was put in charge of leading the Internal Clinic as well as giving lectures of internal diseases - organ and infectious. In the same year as 28 years old he was appointed a professor. He led successfully the Internal Clinic up to 1900, when his student Dr. Jozef Marek took over from him.
Later he stopped teaching meat hygiene and in 1927 also infectious diseases; he held teaching only forensic veterinary medicine.
In 1897 he was appointed a director of the Veterinary Academy. In 1899 he gained its raising to the Veterinary College and in 1906 he gained for it the right of graduating. He was appointed its first rector by the emperor in 1899 and he held this post until 1931 what is an unique fact in the university history.
Hutyra was, above all, an outstanding teacher and lecturer. As a doctor he took care of the development of veterinary education and its approximation to human medicine. He published more excellent textbooks and reference books. He published alone Veterinary Internal Medicine in 3 volumes. Its second edition was published in 1904 in co-operation with prof. Marek. In 1905 it was published in German "Spezielle Pathologie und Therapie der Haustiere" which was translated into 8 languages.
He actively participated in the research if infectious diseases of domestic animals, especially ozaena in horses, pig plague and cattle tuberculosis. He was the first in Europe who found out the special plague virus (1906). He also studied some of its characteristics and elaborated practical prevention by immunization.
As well, he played an important role at organization of the Hungarian state veterinary service. He was a chairman of the Hungarian veterinary association for 15 years. He edited Veterinary annual for 16 years. He organized the VIIIth Intrnational Congress in Budapest in 1906, From 1928 he was a chairman of the Central Committee of international veterinary congresses and from 1929 to his death was a chairman of the Committee of International Office for epizootics in Paris.
As a recognition of his meritorious work he was awarded several state and social Hungarian and foreign prizes. A lot of scientific institutions and veterinary associations elected him as their member. In 1917 the emperor raised him to the peerage. The Veterinary Universities in Vienna and Berlin awarded him a degree doctor honoris causa. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences elected him as its member and later as the honourable member.
At the beginning of the school term 1933/34 - regarding his age and health - he left education and retired. He died on December 20, 1934 in Budapest, where he is buried.
THE PAST AND PRESENT OF CANINE RABIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN
Elisabetta Lasagna, Adriano Mantovani, Romano Marabelli*
WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre for Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitŕ, Rome
*Dept. Nutrition, Food and Veterinary Public Health, Ministry of Health, Rome
The Mediterranean has been defined as" the cradle of zoonoses", and rabies as "the mother of all zoonoses".
When History started in the Mediterranean, rabies was already there and its importance has remained unchanged until present days. Relationships between dogs and man date back to 12,000 years ago, corresponding to about 500 human generations and about 3,000 canine generations. At the same time, about 150,000 passages of rabies virus have taken place.
The first scientific description of canine rabies dates back to 900 BC and human rabies was described 5 centuries later.
For centuries rabies has called the attention of scholars, who developed various theories about its origin and its prevention and treatment.
Throughout centuries, rabies followed human civilisation adapting itself to the different rural and urban situations and maintaining its social importance. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the political importance of rabies was recognised; scientific discoveries explained its aetiology and epidemiology, and new prophylactic methods (vaccines included) have been developed, passing through different phases of organised control until eradication.
At present, many Mediterranean countries, including Italy, have become free from canine rabies; others, co-ordinated by international Organizations, are implementing control programmes.
Where it has been obtained, rabies eradication has influenced dog-man relationships and allowed animal-man relationships to be established based on coexistence.
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES OF CZECHOSLOVAC ARMY VETERINARY CORPS
Otto Pawel
Na Petrinách 59, 162 00 Praha 6, Czech Republic
Activities of Czechoslovak Army Veterinary Corps can be divided into two periods: 1918-1945 (mainly veterinary attendance on military animals); and 1945-1992 (mainly food hygiene inspection). Specific problems of military veterinary medicine were solved by several institutions and by some military veterinarians as well.
First of all Veterinary Department of Military Institute of Technology, Praha was the basic expert institution.This department was transformed into Veterinary Research Centre (after 1950) and then into Military Veterinary Research Institute (after 1960). The institute was moved into Košice in 1977. Military Veterinary Hospitals Pardubice, Hranice and Bratislava were following expert bases. But they were given into civil sector after 1950. Therefore new institutions were formed: Training Centre for Military Working Dogs, Grabštejn, Veterinary Detachments Hlucín and Trnava.
Some problems of military veterinary medicine were solved in civil sector: mainly Food Hygiene and Pharmacology Institutes of Veterinary High School, Brno and Meat Research Institute, Brno; some departments of Central State Veterinary Institute, Praha and some factories Bioveta Company, Ivanovice na Hané.
Following military veterinarians working in science must be presented at least: Major General Dr. Chládek (chief of Army Veterinary Corps); Colonels Prof. Jurný (teacher of Veterinary High School, Brno) and Dr. Píša (teacher of Military War Academy, Praha).
THE FATE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AND SPF-CHICKEN/HENS VETERINARY AND AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITY AT BERLIN AFTER THE ACCESSION OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
Hartmut Kobilke
Lehniner Straße 4, EGG-IMMUN DAMSDORF GmbH, D-14797 Damsdorf, Germany
The veterinary faculty of the Humboldt University at Berlin finished in 1992, 202 years after foundation its existence. In the consequence the institute of virology and poultry diseases was added to the veterinary faculty of the Freie Universität of Berlin. The experimental and SPF-chicken/hens veterinary and agricultural department in Damsdorf was closed. The fusion took place in contradiction to recommendations of the Central scientific council Köln, ignoring the scientific tradition of the past and the results of the evaluation.
As a result of the fusion a few experimental plants belonging to the veterinary faculty of the Humboldt University were ceased, the plant in Damsdorf included. Busy scientists, engaged technicians and other employees lost their jobs.
Main topics of the experimental plant in Damsdorf were
- breeding and rearing of SPF chickens
- technological research
- hygiene
- development of better diagnostic methods
- animal welfare questions
- replacement of laboratory animals by egg yolk antibodies
- application of the IGY-technology
Jealousy between scientific rivals and political suspicions were the background to delegitimise colleagues and their work.
The head of the institute of virology and poultry diseases, my former meritorious chef Professor Dr. Günther Heider, was urged to retire. I fought in Damsdorf myself for the continuance of the experimental plant which was modernised and expanded for 18 million Mark (DDR) from 1988 to 1990. After a long period of trouble with the trust company and supported by local officials I founded a private enterprise named "Versuchshuhnhaltung, Forschungsdienstleistungen und SPF-Produkte vom Huhn" to continue the scientific projects. Now, 6 years later, we try to establish national and international the Egg-Immun Damsdorf GmbH (Ltd.) engaged in research, production, manufacturing and marketing of alternative egg yolk preparations (IGY) for the immunodiagnosis and therapy in human beings and animals as well ecotoxicologic diagnosis.
EARLY SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS
J. Broberg
The Croft, Weston, ST18 OH12 Stafford, UK
Abstract not received.
COLLECTION OF ANIMAL PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS (CAPM)
Valícek, L., Pleva, V.
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 32 Brno, Czech Republic
The Collection of Animal Pathogenic Microorganisms, CAPM, is a department of the Veterinary Research Institute in Brno, Czech Republic. Founded in 1962, it is a member of the Czechoslovak Federation of Microorganism Collections. The major activities of CAPM involve acquisition, preservation and distribution of microorganisms - animal viruses and zoopathogenic bacteria.. With the permission obtained from the State Veterinary Administration, CAPM is licensed to import cultures of microorganisms.
CAPM cooperates with other culture collections all over the world. The CAPM has been a member (WDC No. 181) of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) since 1970 and of the European Culture Collections´ Organization (ECCO) since 1985. For the WHO/VPH "Catalogue of the Sources of Virus Strains and Antisera (1987)" was prepared.
CAPM is the Reference Laboratory of State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic (National Programme on Protection of Genetic Resources of Economically Significant Microorganisms and Tiny Animals).
Main functions:
- to colect, maintain and preserve living cultures of zoopathogenic bacteria and animal viruses useful for veterinary practice, applied microbiology and research;
- to supply cultures of microorganisms for the purpose of diagnostics, applied microbiology, drug industry, biotechnology, research and education in acordance with relevant national and international regulations;
- to offer services for deposit and freeze-drying of microorganisms;
- to accept for deposit strains of microorganisms which are subject to patent applications submitted to the Office for Inventions and Discoveries of the Czech Republic (patent strains);
- to perform research of biological properties, taxonomy and methods of storage microorganisms;
- to provide information on the cultures kept in CAPM by publishing up-dated catalogues.
Deposit and Safe Deposit of Cultures, Services:
Zoopathogenic bacteria and animal viruses are acceptable for deposit in CAPM.
Cultures are preserved by freeze-drying, or freezing in liquid nitrogen or kept at -80 oC. CAPM provides a freeze-drying services and electron microscopic identification of virus isolates to clients.
Ordering and distribution of cultures
Cultures of microorganisms are supplied for a fee to laboratories in the Czech Republic and other countries. Requests for microbial strains must be written on an order form, or on a written paper with a printed letter-head of the institution, and signed by the manager, who thereby takes all responsibility for the further handling and use of the culture. Customers from abroad are requested to make sure that they are authorized complying with their national regulations to receive and handle cultures ordered from the CAPM; a permit is needed to import biological material (mainly microorganisms of hazard group 3 and 4 are kept in CAPM).
GOETHE THE ANATOMIST - HIS ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VETERINARY SCHOOL IN JENA
H. E. König, C. Cervený,* Eva Polsterer
Institute of Anatomy, Veterinary University Vienna
*Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno
Goethe, the greatest German poet, was also a universal genius of his period writing papers on colours, botany, mineralogy, and anatomy. His comparative anatomical studies resulted in the discovery of the human intermaxillary bone in 1784, which has been named Goethe's bone.
His anatomical knowledge resulted from the studies of animal preparations. Goethe was a passionate collector of anatomical preparations and received some of them also from von Schreibers, the founder of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna. The preparations were made by a student of the Vienna Veterinary School by the name of Hermann.
"The actual lot of these object, which I had collected for my personal, but also public and general purposes, was fulfilled only when, in response to a general wish and long and deeply felt need, the veterinary school was established. At that time, Goethe was a state minister for "Supervision of Institutions for Science and Arts in Weimar und Jena". In 1817, his activity covered eleven institutions.
Anatomy and the Anatomist Renner, who was in charge of the Veterinary School, were mentioned in a Goethe's personal letter addressed to his governmental colleague Volgt.
During his second trip to Italy in 1790, Goethe made another and at that time a very progressive discovery. Strolling on Lido, Venice, he found a weathered wether's scull and noticed the apparent similarity between the scull bones and vertebrae. His theory of the origin of scull bones from vertebrae has remained at least partly defendable up to day.
The anatomist Goethe was independent from scholars of that time and from the then prevailing opinions on teaching. He was looking for his own way that eventually lead to the recognition of regularities. He studied the work of the Swedish naturalist Linné and accepted his system. However, scholars regarded Goethe as a layman. Moreover, his description of the human intermaxillar bone contradicted the opinion of the leading anatomists of that time, such as Kamper and Blumenbach, who held the opinion that one of the differences between the man and monkeys was the absence of the intermaxillar bone in the former. It is therefore not surprising that Goethe's findings and ideas were not accepted by his contemporaries.
50 YEARS OF THE CZECH JOURNAL VETERINÁRSTVÍ
Mirko Treu, Hana Žertová
Editors of Veterinárství, P.O. Box 76, CZ-65676 Brno, e-mail veter@login.cz
The publication of the first Czech veterinary journal, entitled "Zverolékarské rozhledy" (Veterinary Review) was launched by Josef Taufer, a veterinarian in Tišnov, in 1894. Its title and publishers changed several times during the subsequent period. After the take-over by the communists in 1948, the development of the journal was influenced above all by political events, in particular nationalisation of veterinary services, collectivisation of agriculture, and nationalisation of the food industry. The first copy of Veterinárství, with the subtitle "journal devoted to the work of veterinarians in animal production and food hygiene", appeared on 1st August 1951. Its fifty volumes represent a chronicle of the development of veterinary medicine in Czechoslovakia and, since 1993, in the Czech Republic. Although the journal had to reflect the changes in agriculture and animal production, its primary role was to establish links among veterinarians and veterinary assistants and to present the Czech and Slovak veterinary medicine to foreign readers. Apart from several months in 1968-1969, the journal has got rid of political influences only since November 1989. A principal change, associated with privatisation of publishing activities, occurred towards the end of 1993. The role of the state agricultural publisher Brázda was taken over by Strategie Ltd. and since 1st January 2000, the journal is published by Ing. Martin Sedlácek, Prague. Veterinárství will be remembered as the Czech veterinary periodical with the longest and uninterrupted publication period. Its present contents have been adapted primarily to the needs of veterinary practitioners. In its historical development, the journal always remained true to the publication of Czech and Slovak articles, support of professional consent, and international collaboration.
FEMALE VETERINARIANS - WHO WAS THE FIRST?
Dr. Vet. Sci. Ivan Katic
SĆndergade 39, 4130 Viby Sj., Denmark
In the second half of the 19th century, the male academic world experienced some changes. Female students knocked harder and harder and longer and longer at the doors of many universities in Europe and USA arguing that a new era was coming. While some countries like Switzerland and France or Sweden had shown more liberality, in other countries student audiences were for a long time exclusively male.
Therefore, thousands and thousands of female students had to leave their home countries, e.g. Russia or Poland, and go abroad to get education in medicine, technical, and other sciences. Some of them studied veterinary medicine.
When speaking about female veterinary students, for a long time the so called "negative countries" had ridiculous reasons for refusing ladies with arguments which are today unacceptable.
Therefore, it is not so important who but where and when our first female colleagues studied veterinary medicine. Today it has become more and more clear that the political, social and economic conditions played a very important role.
The speaker has classified about half a hundred of the "first" from different countries. It can be seen that a very limited number of female vets graduated before the first World War, and there was a significant increase between WW1 and WW2. In the third group we have classified those "first" who studied in the new veterinary schools, which were opened relatively late in their respective countries.
Nowadays, in some countries analyses have been prepared which express concern about the very high percentage of female students; in Denmark, Sweden, Poland or Germany 4/5 of all veterinary medicine students are girls.
It would be a good idea to collect the biographies of our "first" female veterinarians in a book, they had deserved it. The struggle was hard, they went a difficult way, but they won a great battle at the end of the last century.
THE VETERINARY FILMS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE VETERINARY MUSEUM IN BRNO
Jirí Šindlár
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail sindlarj@vfu.cz
In the Museum of the history of veterinary medicine, there were about 90 films with veterinary topics collected. Most of them were created after 1945. However, the most valuable part of this film collection originates from the earlier period: Professor F. Král has made his films in 1919-1939. Many short films were produced also in the Veterinary State Institute in Brno later (J. Krivinka, J. Hrbek). Mrs. O. Brehová is the main author of about 90 albums with black-and-white photos and some films, which have been documented the veterinary events from 1965-1980.
The visits of the depositary rooms with above mentioned collection of films and photos can be organized for the participants of the Congress.
OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS AND ANIMAL BREEDING IN BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Jirí Šindlár
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail sindlarj@vfu.cz
The Agricultural Councils were installed in all of the countries of the former Austria in the end of the 20th century. Commission for animal breeding was involved in it with many specialists, above all with veterinarians in the state service. Many veterinarians - inspectors were largely respected in animal breeding. Some of them are mentioned: B. Wagner, A. Hruza (later professor in Brno), F. Chalupa (horse breeding), V Kysela ( pig breeding) in Bohemia, J. Rudovsky, J. Životsky, F. Hrbácek - Vrla, J. Taufer (later professor in Brno) in Moravia, and R. Resner in Silesia, known as a hero from the famous novel as well.
The merit and efforts of few veterinary inspectors of that time in improving the breeds of horses, cattle, pigs and other domestic animals we hold for admirable.
THE IMMEDIATE PARTICIPATION OF GREGOR MENDEL IN THE ANIMAL BREEDING ADMINISTRATION IN MORAVIA
Jirí Šindlár
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic, e-mail sindlarj@vfu.cz
The agriculture and animal breeding composed very important part of Moravian economy in the past. The state executive managed therefore the area of the whole of agriculture and in animal breeding was a special Commission of Agricultural society engaged.
Gregor Mendel beeing the abbot of the Augustinian order was one of the members of Commission. Commission of Animal Breeding was of a great importance, one of its duties was the appropriation of breeding bulls for the separate region. The leading veterinary officer Václav Cech took also part as the co-operator in this Commission. Gregor Mendel was very engaged personally in the public life, e.g. in an important financial institute in the country too.
PROF. DR. JAN KOLDA, FOUNDER OF THE CZECH VETERINARY MORPHOLOGY - 105TH ANNIVERSARY
Cervený C., Tichý F., Míšek I.
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University Brno
MVDr. Jan Kolda, professor of normal and comparative anatomy of domestic animals and head of the Department of Anatomy of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Brno where he worked for more than 20 years (from 1926 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1953), was born in Kamenice near Jihlava one hundred and five years ago, on the 26th of November 1895. The work he performed to the benefit of Czech and world veterinary morphology, is enormous. He was an excellent university teacher, he compiled the first Czech textbook of veterinary anatomy, developed scientific activities on a wide basis and educated many successful followers. He built the Anatomical Institute and a magnificent anatomical museum. He laid solid foundations to Czechoslovak veterinary morphology. He died on the 29th of November 1958 in Doubravnik in the Ždár nad Sázavou district.
The broad veterinary public, at home and abroad, will never forget him, he will never be only commemorate the personality and importance of Professor Kolda, but also the history and present of Czech and Slovak veterinary morphology at the beginning of which Professor Kolda stood.
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