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Letters The area is very exposed to the Atlantic and there are no trees whatsoever, nor any suitable roosting spots for starlings along the roadside. There was also virtually no wind. There is a long straight stretch of road between the villages of Stewarton and Drumlemble and, as we drove at about 60 miles per hour, we saw a typical magical aerial display by a large murmuration (correct collective noun I believe) of starlings at about 100 feet over the fields on our right side. As we slowed down to admire it suddenly the leader wheeled and the entire flock flew directly towards us at almost ground level. They crashed into the windscreen and bonnet of our car, with a very distinct ‘plopping’ noise. Naturally, we were rather shocked and my wife screamed. We stopped the car and got out to inspect. Some 40 starlings were seen dead on each side of the road. None of the ones we retrieved showed any signs of life. Some had broken beaks, all appeared to have broken necks. Very few had been squashed by the car running over them; almost all mortalities appeared to be traumatic as a result of flying directly into the car. The windscreen withstood the battering it took but there was blood and some debris and faecal matter on it . I have asked among friends and neighbours in Kintyre if any others have observed such a phenomenon, and none have been reported. Clearly, in this case, the birds flew directly into the advancing car and did not, as suggested by Duff as a possibility in his case, fly into the road surface. Equally there was no relationship to roosting at that time of day or location. Although we cannot know precisely why it happened, the whole event gave an impression that ‘pilot error’ on the part of the lead bird had led to what we still remember as a very traumatic experience for both of us, and most certainly for the birds. Ronald J. Roberts, 9 Alexander Drive, Bridge of Allan, Scotland FK9 4QB email: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g469
PRIMATE MEDICINE
Great ape mortality study We would like to highlight a new study into great ape mortality and request information and samples. Vicky Strong is studying towards a doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Nottingham supervised by Malcolm Cobb, Kate White and Sharon Redrobe. This is the first coordinated Europewide investigation into great ape mortality. The study will identify the most significant 102 | Veterinary Record | January 25, 2014
causes of death in each of the species and allow future research efforts to be directed accordingly. This study is being conducted as an initiative of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Great Ape Taxonomy Advisory Group (TAG). More specifically, the information gathered will allow the significance of cardiovascular disease to be ascertained. Heart disease is known to be a major cause of death among the American captive population of great apes (Meehan and Lowenstine 1994, Lammey and others 2008, Lowenstine and others 2008) and yet no similar information exists for the European population. Many zoos have already been contacted directly for records. We are writing to promote awareness of the study and to request further assistance from zoo vets by submitting archived postmortem reports, clinical records and samples; performing full postmortem examinations (including histopathology) of all great apes; collecting and storing samples as per the study protocol; and cardiovascular disease screening as part of health checks and animal moves. All information and forms for the above can be found at www.twycrosszoo. org/ape-heart-project.aspx or via e-mail to [email protected] Victoria Strong, Malcolm Cobb, Kate White, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD Sharon Redrobe, Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3PX
References
Lammey, M. L., Baskin, G. B., gigliotti, a. p., lee, r. d., ely, j. j. & sleeper, m. m. (2008) Interstitial myocardial fibrosis in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) population. Comparative Medicine 58, 389-394 Lowenstine, L. j., mcmanamon, r., bonar, c. j. & perkins, l. (2008) Preliminary results of a survey of United States and Canadian orangutan mortalities in the North American SSP population from 1980-March 2008. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Annual Conference, 2008. p 40 Meehan, T. P. & Lowenstine, L. J. (1994) Causes of mortality in captive lowland gorillas: A survey of the SSP population. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Annual Conference, 1994. pp 216-218
doi: 10.1136/vr.g470
VETERINARY HISTORY
Origins of ‘one medicine’ Unfortunately, Abigail Woods (VR, December 21/28, 2013, vol 173, p 614) seems to have misread my letter on the
origins of ‘one medicine’ (VR, December 14, 2013, vol 173, pp 587-588). In my letter, I said that the initial aspiration to train the students for a combined veterinary/medical course was dropped under Principal Coleman. This was clearly demonstrated by the words on the first (1794) and subsequent ‘graduation’ certificates. The London college almost died with Vial de St Bel: there were no other teachers. Tuition only continued following the initiative of John Hunter and his medical colleagues, who allowed the students to attend their lectures. This single act almost certainly saved the college and saw it through the interregnum until Coleman was appointed. He, having no veterinary knowledge, continued the practice. It is arguable that these lectures were a one medicine initiative as suggested: in reality, they started as a desperate and life-saving strategy for the college. Later, however, they became a source of complaint. Cotchin (1990) revealed how the students became unhappy both with the travelling around London and having to ‘receive charity’. They wanted veterinary lectures at their college. The students turned to the private veterinary ‘schools’ of Youatt, Spooner on anatomy and Morton’s chemical lectures, delivered in a house opposite the College (Smith 1976). As might be expected, the graduates of these years of split education, ‘were of an increasingly poor type’ (Pugh 1962). It is good that there is increasing recognition of the essential unity in medicine. Granville Penn acknowledged this in 1790 when he identified significant European workers in comparative medicine (Pugh 1962). The British medical contribution from 1714 onwards has been well reviewed by Smith (1964). A similar picture unfolded in the developing countries of North America (Jones 2013). Bruce Vivash Jones, Ermin Way House, 34 Dollar Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2AN email: [email protected]
References
COTCHIN, E. (1990) The Royal Veterinary College: A Bicentenary History. Barracuda Books. pp 51, 61 JONES, B.V. (2013) The Establishment of Veterinary Education and The Veterinary Profession in North America. Veterinary History 17, pp 6-32 PUGH, L. P. (1962) From Farriery to Veterinary Medicine, 1785-1795. Heffer and Sons. pp 100, 102 SMITH, F. (1964) The Influence of the Medical Profession on Veterinary Development in the XVIII Century. The Veterinarian 2, 219-226 (originally read before the History of Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine May 16, 1923, but unpublished at that time) SMITH, F. (1976) The Early History of Veterinary Literature. Vol 3. J. A. Allen & Co. pp 16, 28 (originally published in The Veterinary Journal, 19291930)
doi: 10.1136/vr.g471
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on July 26, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Origins of 'one medicine' Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Record 2014 174: 102
doi: 10.1136/vr.g471 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/4/102.2
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 2 articles, 0 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/4/102.2#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
Letters The area is very exposed to the Atlantic and there are no trees whatsoever, nor any suitable roosting spots for starlings along the roadside. There was also virtually no wind. There is a long straight stretch of road between the villages of Stewarton and Drumlemble and, as we drove at about 60 miles per hour, we saw a typical magical aerial display by a large murmuration (correct collective noun I believe) of starlings at about 100 feet over the fields on our right side. As we slowed down to admire it suddenly the leader wheeled and the entire flock flew directly towards us at almost ground level. They crashed into the windscreen and bonnet of our car, with a very distinct ‘plopping’ noise. Naturally, we were rather shocked and my wife screamed. We stopped the car and got out to inspect. Some 40 starlings were seen dead on each side of the road. None of the ones we retrieved showed any signs of life. Some had broken beaks, all appeared to have broken necks. Very few had been squashed by the car running over them; almost all mortalities appeared to be traumatic as a result of flying directly into the car. The windscreen withstood the battering it took but there was blood and some debris and faecal matter on it . I have asked among friends and neighbours in Kintyre if any others have observed such a phenomenon, and none have been reported. Clearly, in this case, the birds flew directly into the advancing car and did not, as suggested by Duff as a possibility in his case, fly into the road surface. Equally there was no relationship to roosting at that time of day or location. Although we cannot know precisely why it happened, the whole event gave an impression that ‘pilot error’ on the part of the lead bird had led to what we still remember as a very traumatic experience for both of us, and most certainly for the birds. Ronald J. Roberts, 9 Alexander Drive, Bridge of Allan, Scotland FK9 4QB email: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g469
PRIMATE MEDICINE
Great ape mortality study We would like to highlight a new study into great ape mortality and request information and samples. Vicky Strong is studying towards a doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Nottingham supervised by Malcolm Cobb, Kate White and Sharon Redrobe. This is the first coordinated Europewide investigation into great ape mortality. The study will identify the most significant 102 | Veterinary Record | January 25, 2014
causes of death in each of the species and allow future research efforts to be directed accordingly. This study is being conducted as an initiative of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Great Ape Taxonomy Advisory Group (TAG). More specifically, the information gathered will allow the significance of cardiovascular disease to be ascertained. Heart disease is known to be a major cause of death among the American captive population of great apes (Meehan and Lowenstine 1994, Lammey and others 2008, Lowenstine and others 2008) and yet no similar information exists for the European population. Many zoos have already been contacted directly for records. We are writing to promote awareness of the study and to request further assistance from zoo vets by submitting archived postmortem reports, clinical records and samples; performing full postmortem examinations (including histopathology) of all great apes; collecting and storing samples as per the study protocol; and cardiovascular disease screening as part of health checks and animal moves. All information and forms for the above can be found at www.twycrosszoo. org/ape-heart-project.aspx or via e-mail to [email protected] Victoria Strong, Malcolm Cobb, Kate White, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD Sharon Redrobe, Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3PX
References
Lammey, M. L., Baskin, G. B., gigliotti, a. p., lee, r. d., ely, j. j. & sleeper, m. m. (2008) Interstitial myocardial fibrosis in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) population. Comparative Medicine 58, 389-394 Lowenstine, L. j., mcmanamon, r., bonar, c. j. & perkins, l. (2008) Preliminary results of a survey of United States and Canadian orangutan mortalities in the North American SSP population from 1980-March 2008. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Annual Conference, 2008. p 40 Meehan, T. P. & Lowenstine, L. J. (1994) Causes of mortality in captive lowland gorillas: A survey of the SSP population. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Annual Conference, 1994. pp 216-218
doi: 10.1136/vr.g470
VETERINARY HISTORY
Origins of ‘one medicine’ Unfortunately, Abigail Woods (VR, December 21/28, 2013, vol 173, p 614) seems to have misread my letter on the
origins of ‘one medicine’ (VR, December 14, 2013, vol 173, pp 587-588). In my letter, I said that the initial aspiration to train the students for a combined veterinary/medical course was dropped under Principal Coleman. This was clearly demonstrated by the words on the first (1794) and subsequent ‘graduation’ certificates. The London college almost died with Vial de St Bel: there were no other teachers. Tuition only continued following the initiative of John Hunter and his medical colleagues, who allowed the students to attend their lectures. This single act almost certainly saved the college and saw it through the interregnum until Coleman was appointed. He, having no veterinary knowledge, continued the practice. It is arguable that these lectures were a one medicine initiative as suggested: in reality, they started as a desperate and life-saving strategy for the college. Later, however, they became a source of complaint. Cotchin (1990) revealed how the students became unhappy both with the travelling around London and having to ‘receive charity’. They wanted veterinary lectures at their college. The students turned to the private veterinary ‘schools’ of Youatt, Spooner on anatomy and Morton’s chemical lectures, delivered in a house opposite the College (Smith 1976). As might be expected, the graduates of these years of split education, ‘were of an increasingly poor type’ (Pugh 1962). It is good that there is increasing recognition of the essential unity in medicine. Granville Penn acknowledged this in 1790 when he identified significant European workers in comparative medicine (Pugh 1962). The British medical contribution from 1714 onwards has been well reviewed by Smith (1964). A similar picture unfolded in the developing countries of North America (Jones 2013). Bruce Vivash Jones, Ermin Way House, 34 Dollar Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2AN email: [email protected]
References
COTCHIN, E. (1990) The Royal Veterinary College: A Bicentenary History. Barracuda Books. pp 51, 61 JONES, B.V. (2013) The Establishment of Veterinary Education and The Veterinary Profession in North America. Veterinary History 17, pp 6-32 PUGH, L. P. (1962) From Farriery to Veterinary Medicine, 1785-1795. Heffer and Sons. pp 100, 102 SMITH, F. (1964) The Influence of the Medical Profession on Veterinary Development in the XVIII Century. The Veterinarian 2, 219-226 (originally read before the History of Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine May 16, 1923, but unpublished at that time) SMITH, F. (1976) The Early History of Veterinary Literature. Vol 3. J. A. Allen & Co. pp 16, 28 (originally published in The Veterinary Journal, 19291930)
doi: 10.1136/vr.g471
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on July 26, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Origins of 'one medicine' Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Record 2014 174: 102
doi: 10.1136/vr.g471 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/4/102.2
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 2 articles, 0 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/4/102.2#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
