Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine - Vetrospect Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

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70 Years of Veterinaiy Medicine at Washington S tate University -,..- - --y- --if-N... I . b COLLEGE OF b gvmmmmv smugmug p!1P '-'A ' ppnn ln: S. lt. A--N-ll The Past It was only a short five months after Washington became a state in November of 1889 that the State Agricultural College and School of Science, which was later to become Washington State University, was founded. The institution was a Land Grant College with educational emphasis placed on the agri- cultural sciences and from the beginning it was specified that one of the major subjects to be taught was that of the Veterinary Art. And thus it all began. In 1895 state legislation created the office of State Veterinarian and specdied that he should also be Professor of Veterinary Science at the State College and a member of the Board of Health. The posi- tion was filled with the appointment of one Dr. Sofus Bertelson Nelson. At this time Dr. Nelson was a practicing veterinarian in the city of Spokane. Dr. Nelson was a graduate of Iowa State Collegeland had done post-graduate work at the University of Copenhagen. In his History of Veterinary Medicine in the State of Washington, Dr. E. E. Wegner notes that, The appointment of Dr. Sofus Nelson was a good choice. Dr. Nelson was well trained, energetic, enthusiastic and a man of vision.

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In all fields of endeavor some individuals will always excel at their vocation. In addition to a measurable quantity X, they possess a plus quality. We Call them charismatic,dynamic and in a few instances a lot of other less flattering terms. Dr. Richard Piper is an X+ instructor. He is capable, intelligent, willing to help, friendly, courteous, thrifty, brave, clean fexcept in post mortemj and undoubtedly reverent, But there is a dark side to this man. He is demanding and chal- lenging. He lectures fast yet he tests only half-fast. Can you imagine: Answer A if B is correct and a, d and d are not correct. Answer B if c is correct, a and b are not correct and c is not relevant. Answer C if a and b are correct, c is not important in the pathogenesis and d is an archaic Latin term. Answer D if a, b and c are incorrect and d is about 4742, correct. Answer E if a, b, c and d are all correct. And though we suffer and complain beneath his pedagogism we know Dr. Piper often puts more work into teaching than we do into learning. 2

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Following his vision of a school where students might come and receive instruction in the Art of Animal Medicine, Dr. Nelson made his sojourn to the town of Pullman, Washington. It was the spring of 1896. The Palouse hills were undulating waves of waist-high grass which could almost be seen to grow if one watched closely enough. The entire landscape was one of fertility and newness. Sofus Nelson was inspired. One could travel several miles without seeing a sign of man 's presence .... then over the crest of a rolling hill, sharp against the azure sky which had not yet lost the edge of winter 's crispness, the horse-drawn mower appeared. Atop the machine a blackened dusty farmer lifted his hat and waved at the passing train. Dr. Nelson mecha nically acknowledged the toiler through the pullman car window. The doctor had hardly noticed the farmer . . . but the animals . . . Percherons . . fine looking draft animalsg serving man and in return requiring care and understanding of their needs and illnesses. 'Next stop, Pullman! Dr. Nelson's thoughts were shaken as the conductor shouted and made his way down the aisle of the swaying car. Suddenly, Dr. Nelson was stricken with the gravity of his mission. He was at once uncertain and apprehensive. Haw would a Veterinary School be accepted here ? Would there be enough interest by students ? .... could he find the support he needed ? . . . would the whole thing work ? Dr. Nelson was soon to discover that it would work, that his vision did indeed have the sub- stance to grow and materialize.