A Biographical History of Veterinary Pathology (review)

This extensive and carefully researched work of nearly six hundred pages represents the most extensive effort to date of Dr. Saunders, who has previous published works on other aspects of the history of the profession in North America and Russia. In this book the development of veterinary pathology throughout the world is documented using biographical sketches of the individuals who were instrumental in its development. The time course begins in the mid-nineteenth century and continues to the middle of the twentieth. The geographic distribution of the individuals who are included reflects the fact that this specialty arose first in Germany. It then followed the course of the development of modern medical investigation internationally during that time period, in North America, Europe, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia; one Japanese pathologist is included. As noted early in the presentation (p. 2), progress in veterinary pathology usually followed advances in human pathology.

Each chapter is devoted to a specific country, and in each the individual biographies are preceded by a summary of the development of veterinary pathology within the national boundaries. The accomplishments of more than 150 pathologists are summarized in extensive essays in which their significant contributions are noted and accompanied by relevant citations. There are also photographs or other illustrations of the scientists themselves, interesting examples of frontispieces of significant and representative publications, and photographs of important institutions, monuments, and so forth.

Saunders has an engaging style, and he frequently comments on personal aspects of the individuals and their idiosyncrasies or foibles, such as “Kitt’s advocacy of German beer” (p. 174), highlighting various facts that have piqued his interest. The book emphasizes the origins of systematized veterinary pathology in Germany, and its subsequent development in North America. The important roles played by giants of modern medicine receive special attention. William Osler, to whom the book is dedicated, participated as a faculty member in the early Montreal Veterinary College, which had an informal association with McGill University. In his early work in Montreal as well as in later efforts, Osler recognized the close relationship between the study of human and animal pathology and described several specific conditions of animals, including hog cholera and a pulmonary nematode of dogs that bears his name (Filaroides osleri). Rudolf Virchow’s role in Osler’s early training as well as in other aspects of the development of veterinary pathology are also well discussed; a chart (p. 216) presents a “genealogical tree” outlining the international effect that Virchow and his students had on the field. Those now in the profession may also be surprised to discover that Virchow himself ascertained the life cycle of the pathogenic nematode (Trichinella spiralis) that humans acquire from consuming uncooked infected pork, and that he carried out studies of bovine tuberculosis, also a zoonotic disease. The names of many of the individuals whose careers are presented are familiar to the veterinary profession in that they occur as acronyms of the diseases that they first delineated.

Dr. Saunders has little patience for those situations in which his profession has not received adequate attention during this period of development, particularly in the United Kingdom. He expresses special admiration for the achievements of individuals who have worked under less-than-optimal conditions due to local or political factors. This is especially true for those European pathologists whose careers were severely affected by the two world wars.

This reviewer entered the field of veterinary pathology after the period covered by the text, yet many of the individuals discussed are familiar. Several are still alive, and in the course of my veterinary education I was taught by several of them. These personal encounters were mirrored by Dr. Saunders’s depictions and evaluations. This volume is an important source for anyone who wishes to gain further insight into the development of a profession that has grown and evolved significantly since...