eterinary Medicine and Its Opportunities Surgery and Clinic Building Agricultural College Bulletin SUPPLEMENT Vol. XHI East Lansing, Mich., May, '19 No. 10 Published Monthly By the Michigan Agricultural College Entered at the postoffice, East Lansing, Mich. as second class matter. Veterinary Medicine and its Opportunities Selecting a vocation is frequently most trying and difficult for young men. It is to inform those unfamiliar with the veterinary profession and opportunities afforded in the veterinary course at Michigan Agricultural College that prompts the issuance of this publication. Valuation in Husbandry The following figures will serve to show something of the relation the field of veterinary medicine bears to animal husbandry and, further, that the profession offers attractive opportunity for rendering service to humanity; something of — / A i^Bj ' ,;,:, n , 4 &k#*Qffi Wkt \« ' ; ""% 1 * f Wmi f ^^iMll An Outdoor Clinic 3 the ability of the profession to cope with existing conditions and that the task of maintaining health and preventing diseases among live stock rests largely upon the adequately equipped veterinarian. That live stock is on the increase in the United States is shown from figures of the past year: horses increased 353,000; mules 101,000; cattle 2,247,000; sheep 1,284,000 and swine 3,871,000; adding an increased valuation of $1,527,912,000 and bringing the grand total invested in our animal husbandry to $8,263,524,000. Loss from Disease The annual losses have averaged three to four percent on the live stock investment or an aggregate considerably in excess of $210,000,000; and it is estimated that 80% of this direct yearly disease toll can be avoided by adequate control measures and intelligent veterinary service. Among the responsibilities in disease prevention and eradication resting upon intelligent and capable veterinary medicine include annual losses from hog cholera, averaging for the past forty years a sum amounting to $30,000,000; southern cattle fever robbing the food and leather supply of a direct annual sum exceeding $40,000,000; tuberculosis $25,000,000; diseases of breeding animals $20,000,000; parasitic diseases $22,000,000 and many other animal disease problems militating against the world's effort to conserve food and clothing and includ- ing diseases communicable from animal to man. Small Animal Operating Room 4 Present Shortage of Veterinarians Another reason why veterinary medicine offers unusual attraction for young men with proper equipment, inclination for science and a desire to render public service, is its com- parative newness as a recognized profession and very apparent shortage of men of combined scientific and practical training; the shortage, never as accentuated as today, will for years to come, produce a demand far in excess of any available supply. Many factors other than the cited emphasis on husbandry have operated in the shortage: The recent call for men for army service taking some 25% from civil life and college courses and to which not all will return, from this college alone over 80% of graduates of the past six years entered service during the World War; the recently adopted high standard of education requirement, making four years of high school work prerequisite for entering upon the veterinary course; the shortage of students and closing of many colleges heretofore furnishing the annual supply, the former in many instances only 50% of normal; increase in number of commu- nicable diseases as production has been intensified and, finally, remarkable increase in the field of opportunity for efficient, trained veterinarians. Fields of Opportunity Following are some of the fields for opportunity for the graduate veterinarian: Pharmacy Laboratory 5 General Practice. Though motor power has considerably supplanted the horse, increase in both country and city work has, however, more than compensated. Contrary to the predicted elimination of the horse their number and value continue to increase; moreover, the stimulation and importance of the live stock industry, the increasing demand to treat diseases among all classes of animals and the fact that stock holders are becoming better informed assures attractive income for skilled men entering the field of general veterinary practice. Government Inspection Service. The Bureau of Animal Indus- try, United States Department of Agriculture, employs over 1700 graduate veterinarians as meat inspectors; for laboratory and quarantine work, and in disease control problems. Following graduation from an accredited veterinary college and competitive civil service examination the initial salary is $1500 and through advancement ranges as high as $3500 annually. U. S. Army Service. Through competitive, physical and professional examination the graduate veterinarian may enter the Army Veterinary Corps with rank and allowances of second lieutenant ($1700) and thereafter receive ad- vancement to rank of major. State Service. Nearly every state maintains a sanitary or veterinary organization for control of animal disease, requiring graduate veterinarians for the work. The com- pleteness of these organizations varies much as does the number of veterinarians employed. Laboratory Diagnosis As Educators. There exists a continual demand for instruc- tors in veterinary and agricultural colleges; the recent demand has exceeded the supply. Research and Extension Service. State and Federal Expe- riment Stations employ qualified veterinarians for technical and literary work incidental to animal disease control and eradication problems. City Veterinarians. Many cities employ veterinarians as members of city health boards or as food inspectors for enforcement of sanitary regulations and to supervise inspection of the milk and food supplies. Some of these appointments are controlled by civil service competitive examinations. Commercial Wor\. Veterinarians find employment as sales- men, advisors with large holding companies, live stock concerns, pharmaceutical and biologic laboratories or as experts in the preparation of vaccines, antitoxins and serum manufacture all of which are exploited for cure and control of disease. Veterinarians on Stocl( Farms. Extensive breeding stock and dairy farms have found it not only advantageous but often times necessary to employ skilled veterinarians to super- vise the sanitary and hygienic conditions surrounding the problems of their live stock industry. Large Animal Ward 7 The foregoing and other desirable opportunities call for and demand high educational standards and scientific attain- ments sufficient to guarantee an individual with ability competent to cope with and measure up to the ever ad- vancing requirements. Advantages of M. A. C. The Michigan Agricultural College, the oldest State Agricultural College in America and one of ten accredited state veterinary colleges in the United States, is offering specially attractive opportunities in its veterinary course; this, because of the intimate relation with the other science and industrial courses of the campus, especially the animal and dairy husbandry courses of the agricultural division. Degrees The college offers a four year undergraduate course in veterinary medicine leading to the degree, Doctor of Veteri- nary Medicine and, also, postgraduate work for the degree of M. S. V.; supported by both Federal and State resources it is rendered competent to furnish a high type of scholastic work unhampered by a dependence upon charges for student tuition. Physiology Laboratory Faculty and Courses The faculty of the Veterinary Division includes a dean, together with veterinarians as full, associate and assistant professors in the departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Surgery and Clinic, Comparative Anatomy, Comparative Pathology and Bacteriology. Instruction in related subjects, including Chemistry, English and Public Speaking, Zoology, Botany, Physiology, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Husbandry, Entomology, Physics and Military Science, is furnished by other divisions of the college and at all times electives are available for upper-classmen. Equipment All departments of the college are adequately equipped with laboratory and necessary facilities essential for modern and efficient work. Clinic Facilities Michigan with over $200,000,000 invested, is essentially a live stock producing state and hence the college, located in the heart of a farming community together with being adja- cent to the capital city and maintaining a number of types of livestock, is afforded abundant opportunity for excellent A Corner in one of the Operating Rooms 9 clinical material and variety of diseased conditions. The college veterinary hospital clinic, in a building especially designed for the purpose, and also the out — or ambulatory- clinic are conducted for giving actual experience and student contact with sick or injured animals. Library The college library and state library located in the adja- cent capitol, with which the former is now associated, offers rare opportunities for book and periodical reading. Military Science Military science is required of all freshmen and sophomore students. Besides the infantry drill, arrangements have been completed with the Federal Government for the establish- ment of a cavalry school. This will be offered as an elective to students of the institution and a permanent consignment of an adequate number of horses will be available for this work. Tuition Fees For residents of the State of Michigan tuition is free, non- residents $ 1 5 per term ; besides this are the various laboratory, gymnasium and incidental fees together with costs for board and room all approximating $260.00 a year. Text books and necessary supplies may be purchased at the college book store. Admission A student must be at least 17 years of age; a graduate of an approved high school or, at least, able to show 15 accept- able units of preparatory work and without diploma may be admitted upon examination; students may be admitted with not more than two conditional units, such conditions to be satisfied before the junior year. 10 Opening Date The regular college year begins the last week in September and continues for nine months. Send for Catalogue For complete and further information relative to ad- mission, board and rooming facilities or other matters a communication addressed to the college Registrar or to the Dean of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, Michi- gan, making application for a catalogue will receive prompt attention. \v 3 0112 105875907 JLJLCIU JLO JL JLIV^ Michigan Agricultural College It is a land grant institution and is supported by both the State and National governments. Its courses are scientific and practical, special em- phasis being placed on the science as related to Agriculture, Engineering, Home Economics, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. It is a good wholesome place to spend four years of college life — a beautiful campus, social advantages, good moral atmosphere, with a loyal student body. It has complete heating, lighting, and water plants, thus providing all the comforts of the modern home. Located outside the city three miles, it is free from the disagreeable features often experienced by those colleges within the limits of the larger cities. It is an institution which attempts to serve the whole people. Four year courses for the high school graduate; eight week winter courses for the busy farmer and the housewife; sixteen week courses for those who are able to spend a longer period of time; and through the Extension Division the College seeks to help the farmer by personal visits, one week schools in central localities, and by public demon- strations on the various Michigan farms. It is an institution which seeks the co-operation of every citizen of the state. Write!for catalog giving full information concern- ing the various courses to the President, East Lansing, Michigan.