BILLIONhe Observer magazine August 6, 1967 was considered very difficult for veterinarians (‘How do you cure a python with an upset stomach?’) Many, Charles Bloomberg writes, felt it was a profession. of Cinderella, and unlike American vets, they’re rejected. courtesy title of Dr’.
When he revealed that there are 8,000 veterinarians in the UK for a rate of one in 21,000 animals, you wondered about the constant and varied task at hand. ‘He must be able to cure a camel’s ear, pull out an alligator’s fang, extract a piece of wire from a cow’s stomach, or perform a caesarian part on a cat.’ To begin with, let’s start with the stomach of which cow?
A lot has changed over the years. ‘As tractors replace farm horses – which have been the veterinarian’s sole charge for centuries – many fear the profession will disappear.’ Its resurgence was largely attributed to the drive to forage home-made food during the war, the continued importance of farm animals to Britain’s economy, and the post-war pet craze.
The life of a country vet – with travel and emergency services all the time and the need to ‘use the phone all the time’ – contrasts with the city vet, whose patients ‘come in’ by lanyard, in carry-on bags, shopping bags, cages, boxes – and sometimes in chauffeur-driven limousines’, and often at set times.
As for the poor python on the cover, although they are often victims of overindulgence (‘If they eat something too large, it may become necessary to peck to remove the food and prevent discomfort)’, but it was in fact impregnated with benzyl benzoate emulsion to kill the ticks under her scales.
Modern day veterinarians must be ‘a mix of child psychologists, weightlifters and sometimes sprinters,’ Bloomberg concludes. ‘If an angry stallion or sow attacks you, it’s best to get out of the way – quickly.’
