The Colorado State University Libraries collects books on equine medicine published before 1908. The following are a few examples of items available in our rare book collection (pdf). Visit our Special Collections Department to view items.
Vegetius Renatus, Flavius.
Ain Buechlein vonn Rechter unnd Warhaffter kunst der Artzney. Augsburg
: H. Stainer, 1532.
Little is known of Flavius Vegetius Renatus, a fourth century Roman writer and military strategist. His only surviving works are “De re Militari” on military strategy and “Digestorum artis Mulomedicinae” on veterinary medicine, of which this work is an early German translation. WorldCat shows only 4 other library owners for this edition.
Velez de Arcinierga, Francisco, fl. 1593-1613.
Historia de los Animales mas Recebidos en el uso de medicina. Madrid : Imprenta Real, 1613.
An early Spanish work on veterinary medicine.
Bourgelat, Claude, 1712 - 1779.
Elemens de l'Art Veterinaire : esai sur les Appareils et sur
les Bandages Propres aux Quadrupedes : a l'usage des eleves des Ecoles
Royales Veterinaires. Paris : l'Impreimerie Royale,
1770.
Bourgelat, was founder of the first veterinary colleges in Europe, the first at Lyon in 1762, followed by one in Alfort in 1765. He was a French veterinary surgeon and authority on horse management.
White,
James.
A Compendium of the Veterinary Art; Containing an Accurate
Description of all the Diseases to Which the Horse is Liable, their Symptoms
and Treatment. London : Badcock, 1802.
In England White was known as “bleed ‘em White.” Smith in "The Early History of Veterinary Literature" writes “We have nothing to learn from White on the treatment of disease.”
We also own a copy of White’s, “A Treatise on Veterinary Medicine,” a 3 volume set published 1806-1825. This work is a later edition of White’s “Compendium.”
Coleman, Edward, 1765 - 1839.
Observations on the Structure, Oeconomy and Disease of the Foot of the Horse, and on the Principles and Practice of Shoeing. London, 1798-1802. v.1-2 in one volume
Smith in “The Early History of Veterinary Literature” writes of the first volume “Throughout this volume no reference is made to the works on which he drew for information; he creates the impression that the field was untilled until he took it in hand”… and comments on Coleman’s overall work “… is a collection of crude absurd doctrines heavily clothed in the philosophical verbiage of the period.”
Jewett, Paul.
New-England Farrier; or, a Compendium of Farriery, in four
parts. Exeter [N.H.] Published by Josiah Richardson, 1826.
Works on veterinary medicine through the late 18th century were works by English writers and reprinted as American editions. This work by Jewett, first printed in 1795 is thought to be the first American work.
Donated to CSU Libraries’ Equine Rare Books Collection by local veterinarian, Dr. Robert Pierson.
Mayhew, Edward, 1813? - 1868.
The Illustrated Horse Doctor : being an Accurate and Detailed Account of the Various Diseases to which the Equine Race are Subjected. New York : D. Appleton, 1870.
Smithcors in “Five Centuries of Veterinary Medicine” notes this piece as “An excellent work by an experienced veterinarian.”
Grisone, Federico.
Gli Ordini di Cavalcare. Napoli : per Mattio Cancer, ad istantia di Marc' Antonio Fenario Libraro, 1559.
A well-known and influential horseman from Naples Italy, Grisone used cruel methods in training horses.
Berenger, Richard, d. 1782.
The History and Art of
Horsemanship. London : T. Davies, etc., 1771. v.1-2
Berenger was the stable master of George III to whom this work is dedicated.
Smith writes “This is a
fine and scholarly work in which he gives the history of horses in all times
and all nations.”
Volume
2 has an armorial bookplate and the signature “Rich Puleston, Emral.” The
Puleston family were in residence at Emral Hall, one of the great houses of
Wales, from the late 13th century to the early 20th century.
Vallet, Louis.
Le Chic a Cheval : Histoire Pittoresque de L'Equitation. Paris : Firmin-Didot et cie, 1891.
The sequel "A Travers l'Europe : Croquis de Cavalerie," which we also own, was published in 1893.
This set on the history of the equestrian from antiquity through the 19th century is lavishly illustrated with line drawings and color plates.
LINKS:
- Catalogue of Rare Veterinary Books - Michigan State University Library
- Five Centuries of Veterinary Medicine - Washington State University
- The Horse : a Mirror of Man - National Library of Medicine
- International Museum of the Horse
- Information Resources on Veterinary History - National Agricultural Library
- National Sporting Library