The health characteristics of veterinarians in Illinois

A descriptive study was conducted in 1967, 1968, and 1969 on some of the basic health characteristics of the approximately 1,100 veterinarians in Illinois. A total of 87% had consulted a physician concerning their health within the past 30 months. Within the past 18 months 47% had been vaccinated against tetanus. Over one-third of the veterinarians had received their last tetanus inoculation because of an injury. Thirty-one percent had been tested serologically for zoonotic infections other than at a meeting of the state veterinary association, 69% wore glasses, 12% were allergic to an antimicrobial, and 24% had a history of an appendectomy. Nearly one-half smoked and another 22% were former smokers. Thirteen percent had hernias with 67% of these repaired surgically. The males of the subpopulation of veterinarians had a mean height of 5 feet 6 1/2 inches and a mean weight of 179 pounds. Gastrointestinal ulcers had been diagnosed in 10%, arthritis in 11%, heart disease in 8%, hypertension in 7%, diabetes in 2% and cancer in 1%. Sixty-eight percent had not lost a single workday in the past year. The total group had a mean loss of 0.85 days due to accident and 4.09 due to illness.