[From materia medica to rational pharmacotherapy]

An introductory part concerned with historical developments in the fields of veterinary pharmacotherapy, pharmacology and toxicology is followed by a discussion of a number of aspects of the enforcement of the draft bill of the Veterinary Drugs Act. Among other things, attention is paid to the veterinary use of drugs registered for use by human individuals (supplementary registration), the position of particular species of animal (supplementary registration), pesticides effective against ectoparasites, non-allopathic drugs and criteria to be adopted in channelling. Improving education on veterinary drugs and their use is advocated. More and better instruction on pharmacotherapy during the second stage of vocational training than that provided for currently would appear to be urgently required. This also holds good for post-graduate education which should possibly be made compulsory.