[Blood analysis 200 years ago--the theory and practice of hematoscopy in veterinary medicine].

Since antiquity the macroscopic judgement of blood obtained through phlebotomy was an important constituent of the medical diagnostic procedures. In the progress of blood sedimentation, the "eucrasia" or the "dyscrasia" of the humours became visible. This paper summarizes the historical and theoretical basis of the haematoscopy, and offers insight into the haemodiagnostic practices of a veterinarian at the end of the 18th century. The authority is the professor of veterinary art and medical advisor Anton Joseph Will (1752-1821), mental father and founder of the veterinary school in Munich, which opened its doors on the 1st of November 1790. Between 1786 and 1790, A. J. Will developed a research program to control animal diseases in Bavaria and examined several thousands of blood samples from healthy and sick animals. The different components of coagulated blood, infected with anthrax, were given to dogs. In this way, he could demonstrate experimentally the high infectiousness of anthrax.