Galician veterinarians in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries: a social and professional portrait

The article explores veterinarians as a professional group within the intelligentsia of late 19th and early 20th century Galicia. It highlights the increasing number of veterinary doctors, driven by the growth of animal husbandry in the region’s agricultural sector, military needs of the Habsburg Empire, and rising demand for their services. Factors influencing the formation of this professional group are analyzed, including the specifics of their education, social perception, evolving stereotypes, workforce size, professional activities, and economic status, etc. The process of consolidation is also examined, evident in the establishment of a professional association.