Posted: January 11, 2012

Dr. Henry Thomas Batt was a respected (and sometimes feared) member of the physiology department during the 40’s & into the 70’s. Unlike his father, Henry E. Batt, “Tommy” Batt was not known to fraternize with his students. It was rumored that he had been interested in a career in the performing arts, but ended up spending many years as a member of the physiology department at the OVC. Like his father, his lectures were colorful and entertaining. His introductory lectures were punctuated with statements such as “look to your left – and look to your right (long pause) - one of you will not be here next year!” and “some will pass – some will fail!” This, predictably, was in an era when failures were commonplace, and the Batt statements did little to ease our minds that our future as students at the OVC was secure! However, in spite of his “arms length” approach to the students, it served to hide a man who was fair in his dealings with the students, and his lectures were always entertaining!

Dean Percy ‘57 OVC

Posted: January 11, 2012

Henry Batt and his son Thomas Batt were undoubtedly among the more colorful faculty members to ever grace the OVC. Henry Batt was born in England, went to sea at the age of 12, and later, emigrated to Saskatchewan in 1905 (the year that Saskatchewan became a province of Canada). He survived the blizzards & other challenges of living in Saskatchewan during the formative years of the province. During his years on faculty at the OVC (1915-1945), he was responsible for lectures on a variety of subjects, including zoology, histology and pathology (imagine!). An entertaining lecturer, he was known to include comments on a wide range of other subjects varying from famous writers to political history. He was regarded by his students with a great deal of affection, and the Henry Batt family frequently entertained members of his undergraduate classes in their home. It is reported that his lectures were always entertaining. For example, during his histology lectures, his chalk drawings on the blackboard often resulted in him wearing various hues of colored chalk on his white lab coat and shoes, and later, his shirt, hands & face! (1)

References:

1. Gattinger, F.E. A Century of Challenge: The History of the Ontario Veterinary College. University of Toronto Press, 1962.

Dean Percy ‘57 OVC

Posted: September 23, 2011

W.J.R. Fowler was born near Seaforth in Huron County, Ontario.  He enrolled at the OVC and graduated “with high honours” at the age of 21 in 1899. Fowler was a dynamic and talented faculty member who served under five principals during a period that spanned over 50 years at the OVC (1900-1955).  He was the first veterinarian in Canada to teach the surgery of domestic animals, beginning at the old Temperance Street location in Toronto, and ending his OVC years at the Gordon Street location in Guelph. Many graduates from the Fowler era considered this horse-centred period to be “The Golden Age” of veterinary medicine. Chronic lesions involving the guttural pouches in horses often led to permanent damage and a resultant respiratory stertor, and thus the need for surgical correction. Fowler’s speed and skill shown during his “roaring operations” on horses were legendary. Former students frequently lamented that they missed the actual surgery demonstration because of the speed of the surgeon!  They also recall his demonstrations of suturing techniques, frequently made on the labels of his expensive tailored suits!  As his reputation as a talented equine surgeon continued to grow, he was frequently invited to Britain and France. He was an accomplished judge of horses, and was in demand as a judge at horse shows throughout North America.

During his career, Dr. Fowler received numerous honours in recognition of his contributions to the veterinary profession on this continent and in Europe, including the Croix de Chevalier du Merité Agricole du France. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Fowler served on the executive of the Ontario Veterinary Association in a variety of capacities, including president (1913-1916). He died in Guelph General Hospital at the age of 78 in 1955, a much loved and respected member of the veterinary profession.

Posted: August 17, 2011

Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Andrew Smith qualified as a “veterinary surgeon” by completing the required two sessions at the Edinburgh school. He received the “First Medal” at graduation in 1861 at the age of 27 years and gave his first lecture in Toronto in 1862. The original veterinary college was located at Bay & Temperance Street in Toronto. Smith was respected and revered by his students over his tenure as principal, a period that extended over more than four decades.  He had a phenomenal memory, and could frequently call former students by name when meeting them, even years after graduation. His reputation as a diagnostician was legendary. Smith was known for his tact and gentle nature with his students. However, students failing to pass the examinations would receive a sympathetic ear, “but no parchment.”  At the turn of the century, there was considerable pressure from the Canadian veterinary profession to extend the course, and it was extended to three years in 1907. In addition, a matriculation certificate was now required for new applicants. In keeping with William Dick’s teachings at the Edinburgh veterinary school, as late as the 1880’s, Andrew Smith was still of the opinion that diseases such as tuberculosis and anthrax were not contagious, but attributed to other factors such as poor ventilation! At the time of his retirement in 1908, a total of 3,365 veterinarians had graduated from the OVC. Approximately half of the veterinarians practicing in the United States at that time were graduates of the OVC. Andrew Smith was considered by many to be “the best known veterinarian in America.”(1)

References:

1. Gattinger, F.E. A Century of Challenge. A History of the Ontario Veterinary College. University of Toronto Press, 1962.

Dean Percy ‘57 OVC

Posted: August 17, 2011

E.A.A. Grange succeeded Andrew Smith as the Principal of OVC in 1908. Born in London, England in 1848, he was one of only 17 men graduating from the OVC with his Veterinary Surgeon (VS) diploma in 1873. In 1908, he received an MSc degree from the Michigan Agricultural College. Grange served as Head, Department of Veterinary Science at the OAC from 1875-1882, then assumed the role of founder and principal of the Department of Veterinary Science, Michigan Agriculture College (1883-1897) which later became the School of Veterinary Medicine of Michigan State College. He also served as Principal of the Veterinary Department, Detroit College of Medicine, until the school closed in 1899. From 1899 to 1908, Dr. Grange was engaged in veterinary research work in New York State.  Well respected as an administrator and scientist, Grange then agreed to return to Canada to become the second principal of the OVC in 1908. He recognized the challenge ahead as replacement of his legendary predecessor. Because of his age (60) and dignified bearing, the students referred to him as “Daddy Grange.” However, in time he earned their respect as a thoughtful and capable leader.

Grange presided over a period of many changes and challenges. These included the designing and construction of new buildings in Toronto, improving and extending the curriculum to three years, and presiding over the “Great War” years.  Horses played an essential role in the war effort. There was a critical need for veterinarians to serve in the Imperial Veterinary Corps. By 1916, seven faculty members and an estimated 130 veterinary graduates were already in uniform. In addition, veterinary students in their third (and final) year “whose progress in studies had rendered them eligible for qualification” were released by Grange for duty in the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. 

Grange retired at the age of 70 in 1918 and died three years later.

 References

1. Wojcinski, Z.W. & Barker, C.A.V. Portrait of a Canadian Veterinarian: E.A.A. Grange, VS, MSc (1848-1921) Can Vet J. 37: 369-372, 1996.
2. Gattinger, F.E. A Century of Challenge. University of Toronto Press, 1962.

Dean Percy OVC’57

Posted: August 17, 2011

Born in Glasgow in 1872, C.D. McGilvray immigrated to Manitoba at 14 years of age. He graduated from the OVC with his V.S. diploma in 1900 and was awarded an M.D.V. from “The McKillip Veterinary College” in Chicago in 1901. He received the gold medal at graduation from both of these programs.  McGilvray subsequently served as Chief Veterinary Inspector in Manitoba from 1905 to 1918. During those years (1905-1910), he played a key role in the eradication of glanders in horses in the province. C.D. was appointed OVC Principal in 1918, and he held the position of Principal (no deans in those days!) for 27 years. McGilvray is regarded fondly as the most colorful (and controversial) leader ever to grace the halls of the OVC. His ever-present spittoon was an essential item of furniture in his office, and throughout his term as principal, his aim in hitting the target was legendary! During his sojourn as principal, McGilvray shepherded the OVC through many changes, including the relocation of the College from Toronto to the Guelph campus in 1922. The move to Guelph out of Toronto was not without controversy. The horse was recognized to be on the decline in favor of gas-powered engines, and the Guelph area offered a ready access to a variety of farm animals. McGilvray’s frugal nature was legendary. This was warranted during the lean years following the move to Guelph. For example, in 1922, only ten students graduated from the OVC, including only three Ontario residents. In 1926, of the eight graduates, five were from the USA and three were from Ontario. Predictably, budget allocations from the government were correspondingly sparse. During the leanest years, the annual budget allocation to the OVC from the government was as little as $50.00!  It is to his credit that McGilvray was able to keep the OVC afloat financially during those troubled times.  On the academic side, following his appointment in 1918, he was successful in raising the entrance requirements and extending the course to four years. In 1924, McGilvray admitted the first female student to the program; Miss E.B. Carpenter, an American from Detroit. Jean Rumney (OVC ’39) was the first Canadian woman to graduate from the College.(1)

References

1. Gattinger, F.E. A Century of Challenge. A History of the Ontario Veterinary College.Unicversity of Toronto Press, 1962.
2. Jones, T.L. Charles Duncan McGilvray. Can. Vet. J. 24: 160-161, 1983.

Dean Percy OVC’57

Posted: August 17, 2011

A.L. MacNabb was born at Beachburg, Ontario in 1897. Prior to his veterinary education, Leslie MacNabb served overseas with the Canadian Army as a stretcher bearer in the 1st World War. He was a gas casualty at Passchendale, and was discharged in 1918.  Following graduation from the OVC in 1923, he was appointed as bacteriologist, Ontario Deptartment of Health (1924).  During the 2nd World War, MacNabb served as Lieutenant Colonel & Lab Consultant for the Canadian Army. He received a DVSc from the University of Toronto in 1945, and was named OVC Principal that same year. In contrast to his colourful predecessor, MacNabb was “quiet and well groomed and somewhat reserved.” However, he was a man of “vision and dynamic energy” who presided over a period of expansion in building including the OVC west wing, curriculum revisions, creation of new faculty positions, and marked increase in the student enrollment in the post war years. In the 1947-’48 academic year, over 75% of students at the OVC were war veterans.(1)

Under MacNabb’s initiative, the University of Toronto senate approved the conferring of the DVM degree on new graduates beginning in 1946. Previously, OVC graduates received the BVSc degree. Until the Guelph campus attained university status in 1964, all OVC degrees were officially conferred from the University of Toronto.  The DVM course was extended to 5 years in 1949. The class of 1952 was the last class to graduate in the four year course, so that there was no graduating class in 1953. In addition to the creation of new departments and the promotion of graduate studies, McNabb laid the groundwork for the establishment of an ambulatory clinic at the College. He also promoted the establishment of the first regional veterinary laboratories in Kemptville, Brighton, Ridgetown, and New Liskeard. During MacNabb’s 7 year sojourn as principal, his professional staff was expanded from 17 to 60 faculty members! After a lengthy illness, Dr. MacNabb succumbed to a brain tumor in 1952 at the age of 55.  The naming of the McNabb Memorial Library served to commemorate his contributions to the OVC.

References:
1.    Gattinger, F.E. A Century of Challenge: A History of the Ontario Veterinary College. University of Toronto Press, 1962.
2.    Evans, A. Margaret, & Barker, C.A.V. Century One: A History of the Ontario Veterinary Association. 1874-1974. Published by the Authors, 1976.

Dean Percy OVC’57