ANIMAL HYGIENE PREOCCUPATIONS IN ROMANIAN PUBLICATIONS FROM TRANSYLVANIA DURING THE 19TH CENTURY

The first publications featuring husbandry and veterinary issues appeared in Transylvania (Romanian provinces) during the 18th century as governmental regulations: in 1786 the regulation entitled „Advice given in Beciu (Vienna) – about skinning and tannage of dead animals ’ skins ” and another one, known as „Arkan ” (secret method) or teachings against sheep liver-fluke issued in 1787, both published in Sibiu. The first books ever translated from German and Hungarian on agriculture and animal husbandry such as „Teachings for treatment and protection against contagious disease spreading across the country [....] ” translated by Petru Maior and published in 1816 feature medical terminology used among this days: amputation, wound, epidemic etc. The publishing of Romanian calendars – annuals destined to the rural population, has mainly facilitated its access to economic knowledge, to practical advice regarding agriculture, animal husbandry together with prevention and even treatment of some animal diseases. Out of the wide range of calendars published in Braşov, Arad, Sibiu, I mentioned „The Good Economist’s Calendar ” in 1882 (fig.1) which recommends the farmers, among other things, the use of pastures because these „offer to cattle the most natural and convenient feed. The animal on field chooses his plants freely, eating successively and digesting properly; the fresh air and repeated movement strengthen the body, increase the appetite and intensify the blood circulation”.Our interest however was raised by two books published during the second half of the 19th century, destined mainly to farmers but at the same time significant to the history of the veterinary science. The first book was entitled „The Home Veterinarian for horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs [....] " (extremely rare today), published in Gherla in 1877 (fig. 2) and written by Basiliu Cornea, Master in Surgery