Frederick Smith (1857-1929) graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1876. He served as a veterinary officer for the cavalry in India (1879-1885), was professor at the Army Veterinary School, Aldershot for nine years until 1893, and later returned to service, rising through the ranks during the Second Anglo-Boer War until joining the War Office during the First World War.
Smith contributed a great deal of literature to the veterinary profession, with papers regularly published in journals from 1876 until the year of his death. His research and publications covered a broad scope, but there were particular interests in horse anatomy and physiology; stable hygiene and nutrition; saddlery; the loss of horses in war; and the eye and foot of the horse. Smith was also concerned with veterinary education and the reputation and status of the veterinary profession as a whole, and this is reflected in his correspondence with his peers.
There is very little information regarding Smith’s personal and family life within the collection. These papers are wholly concerned with Smith’s professional life and activities. Papers relating to this work include official and personal correspondence, case notes, diaries and research data.
