cats and dogs
(and their suitable treatment) was at a rudimentary stage during the early
decades of the twentieth century.62 Fortuitously, veterinary surgeon Frederick
Hobday had developed a small animal practice in upmarket Kensington,
the experience of which would prove valuable in the development of the
“Poor People’s Clinic” at the Royal Veterinary College in Camden Town
where he would become principal in the 1930s.63 Generally, animals’ lives
figure 2.3 Cat’s meat seller with feline customer
being a pet in the 1920s and 1930s 3 3
were fragile since they could not necessarily be prolonged by veterinary intervention.
Dogs were susceptible to distemper, a highly contagious and potentially
fatal disease, that “carrie[d] off scores of dogs every year.” Caused
by a virus that affected the alimentary and respiratory tract and the nervous
system, dogs were often dead within months of contracting the disease.64
Thus a Newfoundland puppy, Bruce, died after a few months from distemper.
Even at the age of 82 one man could recall very well his childhood
reaction to Bruce’s death at the time: “Again devastated!”65 This prevalent
disease was a common condition until it started to be prevented through
vaccination in the 1930s,66 affecting dogs irrespective of status or breed. In
her account of dogs in the couple’s lives, Ada Galsworthy wrote of six “enchanting”
puppies, parented by Old English sheepdogs Biz and Joey, and
named after characters in husband John’s plays:
Their babyhood was most joyous and healthy; but alas! All but one died at
various times from that horrible form of distemper, or distemper’s aftermath,
meningitis. Fleur, who survived, was . . . of inferior size and quality . . . but she
had brains in plenty.67
Although dogs (and cats) were not seen to be routinely subjected to veterinary
treatment or management it was nevertheless expected that humans
engaged with them to effect physical well- being. A 1930s manual for pet
owners stated, “The ordinary individual is generally quite ignorant of the
right way to care for his pet in health, or to treat it in disease.”68 Yet the sale
of not only canine nail cutters but also tooth forceps for the use of dog owners
indicates a hands- on approach— and the expectation that dogs would
tolerate this, of course.69
The unqualifi ed animal enthusiast was not necessarily less knowledgeable
than one who had trained as a veterinary surgeon, which often proved
threatening to qualifi ed veterinary surgeons. Unusually one veterinary surgeon
observed in a visit to the London headquarters of the PDSA where
there were more than 100 animals waiting to be seen:
The gentleman I saw alleviating the suffering of these animals was a “quack,”
but he had a better means of studying the sickness of animals than were ever
accorded to me at the Royal Veterinary College. He had 30 years’ experience
attending small animals; the work he was doing was excellent; he handled his
animals with a great deal more care and skill than many veterinary surgeons
I have seen.70
This was a problem for the veterinary profession, if not impecunious animal
owners, and there were lengthy disputes between vets and animal charities,
particularly the PDSA, about the employment of nonqualifi ed staff.
decades of the twentieth century.62 Fortuitously, veterinary surgeon Frederick
Hobday had developed a small animal practice in upmarket Kensington,
the experience of which would prove valuable in the development of the
“Poor People’s Clinic” at the Royal Veterinary College in Camden Town
where he would become principal in the 1930s.63 Generally, animals’ lives
figure 2.3 Cat’s meat seller with feline customer
being a pet in the 1920s and 1930s 3 3
were fragile since they could not necessarily be prolonged by veterinary intervention.
Dogs were susceptible to distemper, a highly contagious and potentially
fatal disease, that “carrie[d] off scores of dogs every year.” Caused
by a virus that affected the alimentary and respiratory tract and the nervous
system, dogs were often dead within months of contracting the disease.64
Thus a Newfoundland puppy, Bruce, died after a few months from distemper.
Even at the age of 82 one man could recall very well his childhood
reaction to Bruce’s death at the time: “Again devastated!”65 This prevalent
disease was a common condition until it started to be prevented through
vaccination in the 1930s,66 affecting dogs irrespective of status or breed. In
her account of dogs in the couple’s lives, Ada Galsworthy wrote of six “enchanting”
puppies, parented by Old English sheepdogs Biz and Joey, and
named after characters in husband John’s plays:
Their babyhood was most joyous and healthy; but alas! All but one died at
various times from that horrible form of distemper, or distemper’s aftermath,
meningitis. Fleur, who survived, was . . . of inferior size and quality . . . but she
had brains in plenty.67
Although dogs (and cats) were not seen to be routinely subjected to veterinary
treatment or management it was nevertheless expected that humans
engaged with them to effect physical well- being. A 1930s manual for pet
owners stated, “The ordinary individual is generally quite ignorant of the
right way to care for his pet in health, or to treat it in disease.”68 Yet the sale
of not only canine nail cutters but also tooth forceps for the use of dog owners
indicates a hands- on approach— and the expectation that dogs would
tolerate this, of course.69
The unqualifi ed animal enthusiast was not necessarily less knowledgeable
than one who had trained as a veterinary surgeon, which often proved
threatening to qualifi ed veterinary surgeons. Unusually one veterinary surgeon
observed in a visit to the London headquarters of the PDSA where
there were more than 100 animals waiting to be seen:
The gentleman I saw alleviating the suffering of these animals was a “quack,”
but he had a better means of studying the sickness of animals than were ever
accorded to me at the Royal Veterinary College. He had 30 years’ experience
attending small animals; the work he was doing was excellent; he handled his
animals with a great deal more care and skill than many veterinary surgeons
I have seen.70
This was a problem for the veterinary profession, if not impecunious animal
owners, and there were lengthy disputes between vets and animal charities,
particularly the PDSA, about the employment of nonqualifi ed staff.
Comments
Post a Comment