dicated, which was necessarily also an average for the group. No allowance was made for withdrawals from the profession for reasons other than age. The total number of veterinarians in the United States, therefore, is probably not more than 11,000, a loss of from 2,000 to 2,500 during the past 10 years. The greatest production of veterinarians in the United States so far as available records show was during the 10-year period 1908 to 1918, inclusive. Seven thousand two hundred and sixty-two veterinarians were graduated from the accredited veterinary colleges of the United States, an average of 726 per year, while during the following 10-year period 1,913 men were graduated, or an average of 191 per year. As a result the 1920 census gave the unusually large number of 7,252 veterinarians between the ages of 25 and 44. The first of the large group graduating from 1909 to 1918 have now been out 20 years, and while they will not leave veterinary service in the same order in which they entered it, it may be expected that many of them will have to be replaced during the next five years.

It is fortunate that many will be able to continue in service for some years longer, since the veterinary colleges to-day are in no position to turn out seven to eight hundred veterinarians per year. In addition, 1,142 were lost from active service who were 65 or over in 1920. Of the 3,000 estimated as remaining from the 4,600 who were 45 to 64 years of age in 1920, and who now would be 55 to 74 years of age, certainly not more than 50 per cent would be in active service. This would reduce the estimate of men available for active veterinary service to approximately 10,454, whereas in 1920 there were 12,352 veterinarians under 65 years of age. It is no cause for wonder that seniors in veterinary colleges are definitely located before graduation. Their problem is to decide which location or position of the many openings offers the greatest opportunities.

The numerical problem during the next 10 years so far as students are concerned, then, is one of increasing the number to at least 2,000 in order to bring it back to the 1920 basis and supply growing needs. Three thousand veterinarians will retire because of age and it is estimated that 150 more will die during the next decade. This makes a total of 5,150 veterinarians to be supplied by State veterinary colleges during the next 10 years, or approximately 500 per year. This would require that there be an average of about 2,200 veterinary students each year. The average number of students in all accredited veterinary colleges during the 10-year period from 1910-11 to 1919-20, inclusive, was 2,189. The number of accredited veterinary colleges varied during this period from 19 to 24. To-day there are approximately one-half that number of colleges and only about 30 per cent as many students. On the basis of the distribu

tion of veterinary students among the veterinary colleges during the college year 1928-29 as reported by the deans and compiled by Dean White, of Ohio, the enrollment should be about as follows:

The number of students in the veterinary colleges of the United States during the college year 1928-29 varied from 18 to 148. This is obviously not the most desirable condition from the standpoint of good education in veterinary medicine. Either some of the schools are not properly located or for other reasons do not attract the veterinary student.

Chapter IV. Organization and Support

How well prepared are the veterinary colleges to meet the future problems that veterinary medicine will offer in the field of education and research? A study of the replies to questionnaires sent out during 1928 provides the best answer available at the present time. The organization of a faculty, the securing of the necessary prestige and support, and on the whole "making a place" for a veterinary college in one of the large State institutions requires some years. Certainly State institutions contemplating the establishment of a college of professional veterinary medicine should do so with a full appreciation of the needs of veterinary education.

The existing veterinary colleges already have the recognition in their respective institutions necessary to successful continuation of their work. If any of them do not develop as the needs of the profession warrant, it must be because veterinary medicine and its needs are not considered to be so essential as the other branches of the institution's work.

One unfortunate situation exists in regard to the present nomenclature of the veterinary colleges. This results, of course, from the variation in designations used by various State institutions for their principal divisions. At the present time there are four using the name college, five are known as divisions, and two as schools. The word college is not used uniformly, but in higher education is better understood and generally accepted as an institution conferring the first degree and requiring completion of an accredited secondary school for entrance. The word school in connection with universities and colleges is often used to designate the "grouping of subjects to a definite end " or " is applied to part of a university, the standard admission to which is not less than the equivalent of two years' work in college." The words division and department are confusing because of their wide variety of application. They are almost worthless as conveying any definite meaning in educational circles. Five veterinary colleges are designated as divisions, all of which meet the definition of college. A number of veterinary divisions are, however, merely subdivisions of the department of animal husbandry in colleges of agriculture. These are service departments

to the work in animal husbandry and do not pretend to give work looking to veterinary degrees. A veterinary division may, therefore, mean almost anything from the very superficial teaching of a few subjects to animal husbandry students to the oldest and largest State veterinary institution in the United States. It is highly desirable that the institutional unit responsible for professional veterinary education be known as a college.

It is difficult to visualize a veterinary college without a "dean ” but there are two such institutions. One of the administrative officers is known simply as "head" and the other as "chairman." Often such matters are determined locally in order to secure uniformity. But each one of the veterinary "colleges " is a part of the system of veterinary education in the United States. It has, moreover, some responsibility to the profession. The veterinary colleges are not, therefore, strictly State institutions. All are regional in character in every sense except finance. There are 11 veterinary colleges and 48 States or an average of 4 1 States per school. What each State having a veterinary college does, therefore, is of concern to more than the State in which the school is located.

It is noted that the veterinary college is administered in 4 of the 11 colleges by an institutional committee. In two cases this committee is entirely within the veterinary college and in two cases it is not. The advantage of such administration to the institutions is not apparent from institutional statements. Adminstrative matters in a technical or professional school, while necessary, should be reduced to a minimum. As a rule it is best to take such time as may be necessary from one man who has administrative abilities and permit the remainder of the staff to devote itself to the development of academic and research work. There has been too much tendency in the past to reward those who have done outstanding work in education or research by promoting them to administrative positions. This has been responsible for " sidetracking" a number of men who were more competent in the work upon which they were engaged prior to promotion. Capable men should be compensated, certainly, but kept in the work where their greatest future lies and where the greatest good would accrue to medical science. As a rule the simplest and most efficient administration is secured by placing authority and responsibility with one competent person.

Veterinary College Finances

Ten colleges reported in regard to their finances. The following facts and conclusions are derived from these reports. The 10 veterinary colleges reporting received a total of $26,529 from Federal

funds and $510,727 from State funds, a total of $543,785 from these sources. This sum included $79,070 devoted to research, leaving a balance of $464,715 for undergraduate veterinary education. These 10 colleges had during the year the report was made 668 students to whose education State and Federal funds contributed to the extent of $655.96 per student. The remainder was contributed by students themselves and from other sources of income. Owing to the variable systems of accounting, as well as to the different methods of collecting and using clinic receipts at different institutions, it is impossible to make further estimates. In several institutions no report was made of the clinic receipts and in only one case was it reported how these receipts were used. It is not possible, therefore, to go further with a calculation as to the average cost of veterinary education in the United States.

During the year 1926-27, 63 of the 74 medical schools in the United States expended $11,308,800. The 63 colleges had an enrollment during the same year of 16,042 students who paid in $4,057,304 or an average of $254 as compared with an average expenditure of $704 for each student. In making any comparison, however, it must be remembered that the medical schools are running to capacity, while the veterinary colleges are by no means doing so. It can not be estimated how much increase there will be in total expenditures when the enrollment reaches that point, but it is quite apparent that although the total cost for veterinary education will be greatly increased during the next decade the average cost per student may tend to decrease.

In the six veterinary colleges that were able to report it is found that from 1920 to 1927, inclusive, 3,097 students enrolled, or an average of 387 per year. Included in this number were 879 registrations from outside the States where the veterinary colleges are located. In other words, during the 8-year period preceding this survey and following the closing of most of the private colleges, 28 per cent of the student registrations were from outside the State. The highest number (46 per cent) of out-of-State students was recorded in the institution in which out-of-State fees have been eliminated. It is quite likely that at many of the other colleges many out-of-State students establish a residence in the State or at least register from within the State in order to avoid paying out-of-State fees.