19th Century Veterinary Expertise and Methods of Treating Animals – in the Light of the Documents from the Archives of the Potocki and the Ostrowski Families of Maluszyn

Abstract

Veterinary formulas were probably collected and written down by the Ostrowski family of Maluszyn. Written in four scripts on several sheets of paper, they are a valuable source of information on the treatment of animals, including, in particular, horse diseases (coughing, heaves (broken wind), strangles, glanders, etc.), as well as diseases of horned cattle (Equine infectious anemia (EIA – swamp fever), spleen gangrene, carbuncle and plague) and finally, domestic pig diseases (pharyngitis, palatitis, buttocks gangrene, dizziness, smallpox, leprosy, etc.). A valuable source of knowledge for the author of the article turned out to be also the first script entitled „Veterinary medicine of 7 October 1825”. It contains a range of guidelines on how to raise and care for animals. On the other pages of the scripts one can find additional notes on veterinary medicine, medicinal formulas for medicineseye problems, a list of plants for the first aid kit as well as advice on how to behave during the treatment of convulsions. The Ostrowski family of Maluszyn was an example to follow during the capitalist transformation in Polish agriculture. It was not without significance to collect information and write it down precisely in scripts, stored in Maluszyn library carefully. Their methods of animal breeding and care stood for were a model to follow for other landed estates.