a. and sb. [ad. L. veterīnāri-us, f. veterīn-us belonging or pertaining to cattle (veterīnæ fem. pl., veterīna neut. pl., cattle). So F. vétérinaire (16th cent.), It., Sp., Pg. veterinario.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to, connected or concerned with, the medical or surgical treatment of cattle and domestic animals.
1791. Gentl. Mag., II. 1016/1. Veterinary College, London. Established April, 8, 1791. For the … Improvement of Farriery, and the Treatment of Cattle.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 182. Experiments made at the Veterinary School have confirmed this hypothesis.
1832–3. (title) The Veterinary Examiner; or Monthly Record of Physiology, Pathology and Natural History.
1835. H. Harewood, Dict. Sports, s.v. Clystering, They may be purchased at any of the veterinary instrument makers in London.
1865. Daily Tel., 16 Oct., 4/6. Medical or veterinary problems are regarded by some as absolutely incapable of definite solution.
1888. Field, 21 Jan., 92/3. It is curious to notice the entire absence of any idea of specific infection among the older veterinary writers.
b. Veterinary art, science, etc.
1790. Gentl. Mag., I. 298/2. The veterinary art is a practical application of sure and scientific principles to the preservation of health in animals. Ibid., 496/1. The important subject of Veterinary Medicine.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 412. The Veterinary Art. Ibid. (1804), XII. 278. Hence they were led to bring the therapeutics … of the human body to veterinary science.
1825. Bentham, Ration. Reward, 218. The veterinary art, or the art of healing as applied to animals, has only within these few years been separately studied in England.
1884. American, VII. 343. Medicine, veterinary.
c. Veterinary surgeon, = VETERINARIAN sb. 1.
Frequently abbreviated as VET.
1802. James, Milit. Dict.
1809. European Mag., LV. 22. The ancient farriers of our metropolis have conferred on themselves a title highly pre-eminent, that of veterinary surgeon.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 393/2. If an experimental hospital could … be established under the care of a veterinary surgeon.
B. sb. = VETERINARIAN sb. 1.
1861. S. Lysons, Claudia & Pudens, 17–8. I must have an especial portion set off as a forge, for the armourers and veterinaries.
1881. S. R. Macphail, Relig. House of Pluscardyn, ii. 51. Sometimes, indeed, a man was veterinary and a member of the fraternity too—a most profitable combination.
