[Matthias Anker and the foal]

In 1828, the Society of Swiss Veterinarians (GST) raised a prize question in regard to the symptoms, etiology and prophylaxis of polyarthritis in the foal. The treatise of Matthias Anker on this subject was treated with distinction and published in 1830. His statements answered both the questions to the clinical aspects and referred also to epidemiological, pathological, economical and ethical issues as well as husbandry and relations with the breeders. The comprehensive article of Anker in a lucid language and obliging views still finds great interest today, as the septicemia is one of the big problems in stud medicine now as before. Moreover it is astonishing that the recommendations of Anker were disregarded too often. The reasons for this fact may be due to the inadequate transfer of knowledge, on the one hand because of the educational system in that time, on the other side due to the modest economical importance of horse breeding and the neglected formation in this field. The recommendations are still valid.