title: The history of veterinary medicine in Namibia.
abstract: Until the middle of the 19th century, very few references exist regarding the occurrence of  animal diseases in Namibia. With the introduction of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia  (CBPP) in 1859, this picture changed completely and livestock owners implemented various  forms of disease control in an effort to contain the spread of this disease and minimise its  devastating effects. After the establishment of the colonial administration in 1884, the first  animal disease legislation was introduced in 1887 and the first veterinarian, Dr Wilhelm  Rickmann, arrived in 1894. CBPP and the outbreak of rinderpest in 1897 necessitated a  greatly expanded veterinary infrastructure and the first veterinary laboratory was erected at  Gammams near Windhoek in 1897. To prevent the spread of rinderpest, a veterinary cordon  line was established, which was the very beginning of the Veterinary Cordon Fence as it is  known today. After the First World War, a small but dedicated corps of veterinarians again  built up an efficient animal health service in the following decades, with veterinary private  practice developing from the mid-1950s. The veterinary profession organised itself in 1947  in the form of a veterinary association and, in 1984, legislation was passed to regulate the  veterinary profession by the establishment of the Veterinary Council of Namibia. The outbreak  of foot and mouth disease in 1961 was instrumental in the creation of an effective veterinary  service, meeting international veterinary standards of quality and performance which are still  maintained today.
authors: Agrivet International, Windhoek, Namibia. agrivet@mweb.com.na
authors: Herbert P
authors: HP
authors: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history / Q000662:veterinary; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012301:Rinderpest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000266:history; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration