Change

One of the major themes of Herriot's writing is the change that has come about in veterinary medicine since he became a doctor and the improvements these changes have made in animal care. One of the most important changes in veterinary medicine is the discovery of penicillin. This discovery allowed veterinarians to successfully treat diseases that had once been considered incurable. Veterinarians are also now able to perform Caesarian sections on cows, much like on people, instead of having to deal with trying to birth a too large or breach cow naturally. Although Herriot feels he had made a mess of the first Caesarian he attempts, he learns this type of surgery can be a valuable asset.

Artificial insemination is a major development in the veterinary field that not only allows the doctors to branch out into new specialties, but also benefits the farmers as well. Artificial insemination...