By Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
Posted October 7, 2011.
Posted October 7, 2011.
Everyone has to start at the beginning, even if that
person is destined to become one of the most famous veterinarians in
history. On this date, October 7, 143 years ago, Daniel
Salmon began his veterinary studies when Cornell University opened its doors
for the first time. He would become the nation's first D.V.M. graduate.(1)
Celebrating what came to be known as the
university's Inauguration Day, founder Ezra Cornell said, “I hope we have
laid the foundation of an institution which shall combine practical with
liberal education …. [and] which shall prove beneficial to the poor young men
and poor young women of our country.” Wisely, Ezra Cornell also insisted
that veterinary medicine be among the subjects to be taught from the very
beginning of his new university.
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| Daniel Elmer Salmon (Photo by Cornell University) |
James
Law, an eminent Scottish veterinarian had arrived in Ithaca only weeks earlier
to become the nation’s first university professor of veterinary medicine. Though
Professor Law had several students who became leaders in veterinary medicine
and animal health research in the late 19th century, none was
more famous than Daniel Salmon.
When the Bureau of Animal Industry was established in 1894 to
promote the health of livestock, and to establish a national standard for meat
inspection, Daniel Salmon was chosen as its first director. He is also
attributed with the discovery of the bacterial organism that bears his name, Salmonella.
The students who started their veterinary education
at Cornell in August of this year have a special kinship with every new
veterinary student who has entered this university since Daniel Salmon. Though
they are now immersed in the challenging studies that are necessary in the
making of a veterinarian, they can also look with pride at the man who started
on a similar journey 143 years ago today.
(1) Salmon actually received his veterinary degree in 1872. At that time, the degree was called the B.V.M. and he was the the second Cornell student to be so recognized. Salmon then did postgraduate work in Europe and Cornell to qualify for the DVM degree in 1876. In the modern era, that additional work would roughly quality for what we now designate as the PhD. So, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Salmon received his equivalent of the DVM in 1872, and the modern equivalent of the PhD in 1876.
(1) Salmon actually received his veterinary degree in 1872. At that time, the degree was called the B.V.M. and he was the the second Cornell student to be so recognized. Salmon then did postgraduate work in Europe and Cornell to qualify for the DVM degree in 1876. In the modern era, that additional work would roughly quality for what we now designate as the PhD. So, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Salmon received his equivalent of the DVM in 1872, and the modern equivalent of the PhD in 1876.
Dr. Smith invites comments at dfs6@cornell.edu
