Fitzwygram’s Coach House Restored

The coach house on the country estate formerly belonging to Sir Frederick Wygram, a leading veterinarian of his day, has been restored and an exhibition installed.

Russell Cleaver

Coleman’s Lecture on Diseases of the Chest

Edward Colemn was professor of the London Veterinary College for 45 years. He was a young surgeon with no veterinary experience when he was appointed. Willaim Moorcroft, a practising veterinary surgeon, was appointed at the same time, but resigned within weeks. Colemans’ s lecture “On Diseases of the Chest” was given in 1817. The full text is given here. Coleman starts with some observations on anatomy and function. The main disease discussed is inflammation of the lungs and pleura. Comparisons with the condition in man are given. Coleman discusses the symptom of perspiration but dismisses it as being a cause of catching cold. Treatments given include Aloes as a purge, bleeding, the use of setons and rowels. He also advocates the use of boiling water applied to the distal limbs, but this was discredited by contemporaries. A description of the use of setons and rowels is given.

John J P Wood

Fall of Berlin. What happened to the Veterinary Libraries?

An account of the losses of books from the Library of Veterinary Medicine at Friedrich Wilhelm University (now part of the Freie University Berlin) during and in the aftermath of the Second World War. Books were moved to cellars and more secure location during the War, but bombing resulted in the destruction of a lot of material. The largest loss appears to be as a result of a systematic confiscation by Soviet troops. It is estimated that between 35,000 and 43,000, out of a total of about 60,000 volumes, were lost to theft by the Russian authorities.

Martin F Brumme