The consequences of the Great War on the School of veterinary medicine of Milan

In 1915, when Italy came into the war next to the powers of the Entente, the Royal High School of veterinary medicine of Milan was known as an efficient body of formation of the new recruits on their way to the profession of veterinary surgeon; but not only that: through its nursing homes for animals (mostly horses) the School fulfilled an important service for the territory. Moreover, thanks to the tireless activity of its headmaster Nicola Lanzillotti-Buonsanti, the School had become since the end of the 19th century a centre of research and scientific divulgation, concentrated in a net of close relations with other high school education centres in Milan. The “Great War” burst into this reality with obvious negative side-effects which left deep traces. About 50 among registered ones, the majority of the third and fourth year students were recalled: the fallen were three. The School organisation, the time of the development and length of the courses, the exam calendar were compressed and utterly bent to war time needs. As to the teaching body, in those days most confirmed professors of the School were over forty years old and therefore they stayed on to teach and manage the clinics and institutes; quite a few assistents however, were enlisted and also two professors: Pietro Stazzi, later headmaster of the School (since 1921) and Guido Guerrini; all teaching however, went on regularly during the whole world war.