Aleen Cust – First Woman Veterinary Surgeon in Britain – Early Influences

Aleen Cust was the first British woman to become a veterinary surgeon. She was born in Ireland in 1868 into an aristocratic English family. She left her family to enrol at the Veterinary College in Edinburgh, where she completed the course in 1900. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons refused to register her, as no woman had been a veterinary Surgeon before and deemed it illegal. She worked in Athleague, Roscommon eventually owning her own practice. Following the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act in 1919, the RCVS finally awarded Aleen Cust her diploma in 1922 at the age of fifty-four.

Connie M Ford

Animal Health and Ecological Disaster in Nineteenth Century Australia

A history of the early importation of European farm animals into Australia and the devastating consequences on the ecosystem. Initially disease prevalence was low, but dramatically increasing numbers of sheep and cattle led to the spread of infectious and parasitic diseases. The outbreak of ‘Catarrh’ in 1834 is described. The importation of a few rabbits led to the nightmare of a population explosion of continental proportions. By the mid-nineteenth century some attempts were made to limit importation of animal disease. Alexander Bruce was appointed as Chief Inspector of Cattle in 1864. He was responsible for eradicating sheep scab and strengthening port controls to prevent the importation of Foot-and -Mouth disease.

J R Fisher

Hippocrates and Veterinary Medicine

A review of the writings of Hippocrates from the classical period in Greece. The various mentions of animals in sections on comparative anatomy and disease are described, including the first description of Echinococcus cysts in the ox, dog and pig.

Anastasius Tsaknakis

British Veterinarians in the Veterinary Service of Palestine

A list of British veterinary surgeons working for the government veterinary services in Palestine from 1920 until 1948.

Y S Goor