Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts - Softcover

Philipp Schott

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1770417834 ISBN 13: 9781770417830

Publisher: Ecw Press, 2025

Synopsis

How and why did humans begin to treat sick and injured animals? And how did those practices, and the associated attitudes, evolve from prehistory to the present day? To answer these questions, Dr. Schott shares stories of 22 different animal healers and veterinarians from across eras and continents, examining the always fascinating, often unexpected, and sometimes hilarious veterinary methods employed by these people and their colleagues. But at the heart of the tale lies the evolution of the human-animal bond, which has been more cyclical than linear. In many ways, we are returning to the outlook of our distant ancestors after a centuries-long detour through a more utilitarian approach. James Herriot will be familiar to many people, but most of the other featured vets will be new. They range from Palakapya, who treated fighting elephants in India almost 3,000 years ago, to Dr. Louis Camuti, who had the first feline house call practice anywhere, tending to the cats of celebrities in mid-20th-century Manhattan. Along the way, we see every kind of person trying to heal every kind of creature, from dogs, cows, horses, and cats to canaries, gorillas, and even dragons. Whether you have a passion for animals, the history of the medical sciences, or just quirky history, this light-hearted exploration of the empathetic relationship between man and beast will entertain and delight.

About this title

About the Author

Philipp Schott lives in Winnipeg, where he practices veterinary medicine, writes, and shares a creaky old house on the river with his wife, two kids, and one nutty cat. His first book, The Accidental Veterinarian, was a bestseller and was translated into five languages. Six other books have followed.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ecw Press
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1770417834
• ISBN 13: 9781770417830
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260