The History of Veterinary Medicine Through Eyes of The WVMA Past-presidents

          WVMA Oral Histories of the past-presidents

                                                      Preface

       Looking back, this book is a great enduring legacy to future generations, 
although there were veterinarians who did not have the opportunity to tell their 
stories. As an example, on August 20th of this year, Dr. Glen Downing died. He 
was our WVMA President in 1968. I interviewed him in Stevens Point two years 
ago. Many of our questions were unanswered, because his notes and presidential 

material were left in his condo in Florida. With the death of his son, Dr. Robert 
Downing, last year, and with Glenn’s moving back to Wisconsin the same year, 
it was not the appropriate time to reconnect and complete the interview.

        Glenn gave our committee two pictures of his dad, one of which was taken in 
1914. The picture was of Dr. Melvin W. Downing of Waukesha, with his team of 
horses, the main form of transportation at the “Turn of the Century,” an era never to 
be seen again.

       This century started with the horse as the “Supreme Symbol of Power.” The 
equine practitioner was at his zenith. Within one decade, the fear of the bicycle 
threatened the veterinary profession. The replacement of the pleasure horse would 
be the veterinary profession. For years, many articles were written, many late 
nights were involved in heated discussions, seeking a solution to the direction of 
the veterinary profession. Many people, including veterinarians, thought the noisy, 
unreliable “horseless carriage” would never develop into anything. However, the 

automobile became the world’s main form of transportation.

      The early 1920s brought the dawn of the dairy industry; and in the mid-1930s, 
the true small animal practitioner became a mainstay in the larger cities across 
this great nation. Today, veterinarians who work with companion animals 
outnumber any other segment of the veterinary profession. As we face this next 
millennium, or as we would describe “The Next Turn of the Century,” our 
profession need not fear a new invention that would displace our colleagues. 

The future looks bright, with many more challenges than our predecessors had to 
deal with in this present century.

       When you read the interviews of our WVMA past-presidents, the present 
number of only twenty-eight, you will realize the great impact our state veterinary 

association had on the national veterinary scene. For example, Dr. James Welch 
was involved in the experimental use of Strain 19 in Wisconsin to halt the spread of Brucellosis in cattle.  A five-state conference held in Lansing, MI with the Chief of 

the Bureau of Agricultural Industry (BAI) from Washington, D.C. (it later became 
the FDA). During the heated discussions that followed the report given by Dr. Sam 

McNutt and Dr. Welch, the Bureau Chief got up and left the meeting and went back 
to Washington, D.C.  Dr. Welch was told that about two weeks later the Chief either 

resigned or was the fired from his post. 

       Early TB testing was started in Wisconsin before it was used nationally. The 
testing procedure was changed, and how it was changed is an even better story. 
Dr. Arlye McDermid, WVMA President in 1954, tells about it and, you will agree, 
today’s unorthodox manner in which the federal and state veterinarians worked 
with the private practitioners makes an excellent story. This is only a taste of what 
lies within these pages.

       The ongoing phase of interviewing will now be turned over to the newly-elected 
WVMA President. Our committee recommends that each year as the new WVMA 
President takes officer, he or she interview the outgoing president. In this way, the 
WVMA history will not be lost.

      This was an unbelievable task. Our committee, consisting of Dr. Frank Gentile, 
Dr. Quint Metzig, Dr. Burr Nussdorfer and me, have logged more than 4,800 miles 

since June 1996.  We interviewed thirty WVMA past-presidents on a $50 per year 
budget.  Later, the WVMA Executive Board appropriated additional funds for a 
Univ. of Wisconsin – SVM transcriptionist to complete our work.  This experience 
has been rich in memories.  We all had a great deal of satisfaction in offering this 
book to the veterinary profession.  It makes one look back with respect at the role 
played by our outstanding past-presidents of the WVMA.

Fred J. Born, DVM, Chairperson

WVMA Historical Committee

September 1999

Editor’s note:  In preparing for this Internet version, I tried to contact as many of the living WVMA past-
presidents, requesting a photo to be placed with their recorded comments.