scholarly journals Veterinary education in South Africa : the Classes of 1932 & 1933 : short historical communication

2007 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. Bigalke
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Public Health Service ◽  
Veterinary Education ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Municipal Public Health Service

The Class of 1933 of the Onderstepoort Faculty was the smallest in its history, having only 1 student for much of the BVSc course. The photographs of the Classes of 1932 and 1933 are both of the customary composite type. Not only the graduates, but also the Dean, Prof. Dr P J du Toit, as well as the presumed Acting Dean, Prof. Dr G de Kock, and the head of the students' hostel, Mr WO Neitz, feature. Concise descriptions are given of the life histories of the 7 graduates. Once again their careers show considerable variation. Although they all initially joined Field Services as state veterinarians, none spent their entire careers in that division. Three spent virtually their entire careers at Onderstepoort, also teaching (part-time) at the Faculty. After a most impressive start to his career, a 4th graduate died at the age of only 30 shortly after leaving Onderstepoort for municipal (public health) service. A 5th spent most of his career in private practice while also serving the veterinary profession for 8 years in the high office of president of its association. One spent the greater part of his career in municipal (public health) service and another went into private practice, eventually also farming with citrus.

scholarly journals Veterinary education in South Africa : the class of 1926 : short historical communication

2004 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. Bigalke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Veterinary Education ◽  
Probable Reason ◽  
Part Time ◽  
World Class ◽  
Veterinary Faculty

Both Sir Arnold Theiler, appointed as Dean in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was established, and Dr P J du Toit, who succeeded him in 1927, appear in the compound photograph of the class of 1926, constituting the 3rd group of graduates. The probable reason for having 2 deans on the photograph, which was obviously composed from shots taken individually of the outgoing and incoming deans of the faculty as well as of each of the 7 graduates, is initially analysed in this paper. This is followed by short descriptions of the life histories of the graduates. The class of 1926 was probably unique in that 2 of its members, who were employees of the Onderstepoort Research Institute, were granted special permission to study veterinary science at the Faculty. After graduating, most of the class members spent the greater part of their careers as civil servants at Onderstepoort as researchers and part-time teachers in the Faculty, as was customary for many years, or as state veterinarians in the field. Private practice did not feature strongly with them. Noteworthy is that the class produced 3 outstanding scientists, i.e. a world class parasitologist, a very eminent pathologist and Onderstepoort's 1st poultry specialist.

scholarly journals Veterinary education in South Africa : the Class of 1925 : short historical communication

2004 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. Bigalke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Private Practitioner ◽  
Veterinary Education ◽  
Field Officer ◽  
Veterinary Faculty

Veterinary education in South Africa started in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was created. Sir Arnold Theiler was close to retirement when he finally officiated as Dean at the graduation ceremony in 1926 for the class of 1925, constituting the 2nd group of graduates. In this article the fateful circumstances that dictated the final years of Theiler's brilliant career and their effect on his participation in student matters are initially dealt with. This is followed by concise descriptions of the life histories of the ten veterinarians who graduated from the Faculty in 1925. Particularly noteworthy is that although they all started off their careers as civil servants, 4 ended up in private practice. One of them in fact spent by far the greatest part of his career, namely 35 years, as a private practitioner. An unusual incident was the almost fatal shooting of another one, while he was executing his duties as a veterinary field officer, by the son of a farmer.

scholarly journals Veterinary education in South Africa : the Classes of 1934 & 1935 : short historical communication

2008 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. Bigalke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
South African ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Government Service ◽  
The South ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
The Government

The Class of 1934 included 2 graduates who created milestones for the veterinary profession in South Africa. Jack Boswell was the first Onderstepoort graduate to start his own private practice without ever joining the government service. George van der Wath has the distinction of being the only South African veterinarian to become Chairman of the prestigious South African Wool Board. Ashton Tarr was President of the South African Veterinary Medical Association from 1966-1969. Concise descriptions are given of the varied life histories of the 14 members of the Classes of 1934 and 1935. All except Boswell initially joined government service, one serving mainly in the Colonial Service before eventually returning to South Africa. Three spent their entire careers in the South African Veterinary (Field) Services, finally occupying very senior positions in that division. One ended his career lecturing at a university. Lambrechts was the first veterinarian to occupy the 'resurrected' post of Director of Veterinary Services reserved for field veterinarians. Only one of the graduates opted for research, but went farming after obtaining a DVSc degree. Three spent the greater part of their careers in private practice, Thiel from as early as 1937. Two went into municipal (public health) service, one becoming director of an abattoir. Only one saw military service in World War II. Two died before they were 50 years old. Unfortunately, virtually nothing is known about Erasmus' career. At 97 Thiel holds the distinction of being the oldest Onderstepoort graduate.

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