Veterinarians of Berks County

Submitted by Bonnie Blau.

Source: Morton Montgomery's History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, pp. 104-5.

From the beginning of the first settlements until the year 1889, the practice of medicine and surgery in connection with domestic animals was carried on without any legal restrictions.

Farmers and men of experience, who had become familiar, through long observation, with animal sicknesses and diseases, prescribed and administered the necessary remedies, and in every section of the county there came to be men who were recognized for their skill in curing domestic animals of their various ailments.

Then April 11^th an Act of Assembly was passed by the Legislature of Pennsylvania which related to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery, and every practitioner of this particular branch of the profession was obliged to be a graduate of a regularly chartered veterinary college, and to register his qualifications in the prothonotary's office of the county where he practiced; but all those who had practised for five years before were allowed to register by filing the necessary affidavits, within six months after the passage of the Act.

This legislation was brought about by the efforts of the Pennsylvania State Veterinary Association, which had been organized in 1833.

The first president was James W. SALLADE, then of Pottsville, but formerly of Berks county. In 1904 and 1905 Dr. Otto G. NOACK, of Reading, was the president. Membership in1909 was two hundred; from Berks county, five.

In 1895, a State Board of Veterinary Examiners was established by an Act passed on May 16^th, and all practitioners after that date not theretofore registered were obliged to secure a certificate from this State Board, which had to be filed in the prothonotary's office of the county where the practitioner resided; but this act was amended in 1905, which authorized the secretary of the State to issue a license on the Board's certificate, and this license qualified the practitioner to practise anywhere in the State.

This Board was created for the purpose of looking after the sanitary condition of the live stock in Pennsylvania.In 1907, Dr. NOACK was appointed agent for the entire State. Since the creation of this Board over four hundred cows in Berks county have been killed on account of Tuberculosis.

In 1908 there were five veterinary surgeons in Reading and thirty-four in Berks county.

The following statement shows the registered veterinarians of Berks county, with college and year of graduation. Where no college is given, an affidavit was filed without specifying the time of starting practice. [D. after name indicated deceased; C. ceased to practice; R. removed out of county.]