Veterinary homoeopaths in Wikipedia

[RationalVetMed]

It seems Veterinary homoeopaths have their own little section in Wikipedia.

While idly surfing recently I experienced a strange frisson as I came across the following section in Wikepedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Association_of_Homeopathic_Veterinary_Surgeons). It states:

The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, also known as the BAHVS, was founded in 1982 by a nucleus of veterinary surgeons with an interest in homeopathy: George Macleod MRCVS (President), Christopher Day MRCVS (Hon. Sec.), Francis Hunter MRCVS, John Saxton MRCVS and others.

So the usual suspects there then. The reference continues:

The BAHVS has approximately 140 members throughout the world

...and Wikepedia obligingly tells us about “World”:

Its primary modern meaning is the planet Earth

That’s 140 members among the whole population of the earth; by normal standards that might sound like a really feeble level of support, by homoeopathic logic however, it’s a phenomenally strong force.

Following a link from BAHVS to here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_for_Veterinary_Homeopathy I find:

The International Association for Veterinary Homeopathy, also known as the IAVH, was founded in Luxembourg in 1986 by a nucleus of veterinarians (or veterinbary[sic] surgeons) with an interest in homeopathy

(Obviously the word “veterinbary” is a mis-spelling, a lot of people have difficulty with this word, actually the word in this context should have an m between the r and the y.)
... the section continues:

The first President of the international association for vet homoeopathy was Christopher Day

Hmmm...

Flicking on to the Wikipedia section on homoeopathy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinary_homeopathy) I read

Contemporary English language authors of note, on the subject, are: Christopher Day (UK), Peter Gregory (UK), Don Hamilton (USA), Francis Hunter (UK), John Saxton (UK)

Goodness me, where have I heard these names before?..

Following the link to veterinary surgeons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinary_surgeons) I find that:

A Veterinary Surgeon is a veterinarian qualified in the UK and some other English-speaking countries

A limited definition I would have thought and a bit tough on vets qualified in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Iceland, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, the Czech republic and so on. But where has this quirky definition come from? I read on with baited breath.

The full entry is a mere 3 (short) paragraphs long, the third of which reads (in its entirety):

Various alternative medicine therapies can only be performed by a veterinary surgeon (e.g. homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine aka phytotherapy, aromatherapy).

Well considering all the other stuff that vets do, that’s a rather strange emphasis - it’s almost as if this section has been written with someone with a vested interest in CAVM, [thinks]now who might be a likely candidate?..[/thinks] Answers on a postcard please.

So obviously there’s quite a bit of editing required in these sections, and how about a new section - “The British Veterinary Voodoo Society, founded by Rolfe (blonde, bubbly 22)...” I think that’s a start!

Yuri

 

[geni]

The full entry is a mere 3 (short) paragraphs long, the third of which reads (in its entirety):
Well considering all the other stuff that vets do, that’s a rather strange emphasis - it’s almost as if this section has been written with someone with a vested interest in CAVM, [thinks]now who might be a likely candidate?..[/thinks] Answers on a postcard please.

I don't think it is anyone we know. The author is User:Ballista

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ballista

So obviously there’s quite a bit of editing required in these sections, and how about a new section - “The British Veterinary Voodoo Society, founded by Rolfe (blonde, bubbly 22)...” I think that’s a start!

Do you have any mentions in the mainstream media?

 

[Darat]

...snip...

Do you have any mentions in the mainstream media?

Mentioned in NS: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18825294.200.html

 

[Rolfe]

Well, I was 22 once....

By the way, did you see that Francis Hunter (who must be pushing 80 I would think) is trying to start things up again in Veterinary Times? I sort of feel a reply coming on.

Rolfe.

 

[RationalVetMed]

...did you see that Francis Hunter (who must be pushing 80 I would think) is trying to start things up again in Veterinary Times? I sort of feel a reply coming on.

How about

"It must be comforting for Francis Hunter (June 5th edition) to believe that the world population is strictly divided into 2 sorts of people - those who think that homoeopathy works (or as he calls them people who “know a lot about homoeopathy”) and those who don’t believe that homoeopathy works (or, as he calls them those who “know little about homoeopathy”).

Sorry to disturb your cosy world Francis but I’m one of those many people who “know a lot about homoeopathy” and still think it’s codswallop.

Someone who “knows even more about homoeopathy”, namely Edzard Ernst, Professor of Complementary Medicine at the Peninsula Medical school, Exeter, said recently that homoeopathy was “an implausible treatment for which over a dozen systematic reviews have failed to produce convincing evidence of effectiveness”.

Obviously Professor Ernst “knows something Francis doesn’t”.

That is the reply that I am going to send this morning. It's always the same with these guys, they really get my goat, just as you're trying to be reasonable and understanding about things they hit you with a load of extreme smug which completely does my head in. I hadn't even noticed the original book review he's on about but his letter is just asking for trouble. It was Hoare's similarly patronising responses to the original Vet times letters that started all this in the first place - ought to be grateful really!

Yuri

 

[Blue Bubble]

By the way, did you see that Francis Hunter (who must be pushing 80 I would think) is trying to start things up again in Veterinary Times? I sort of feel a reply coming on.

Rolfe.

Rolfe, I don't suppose the Veterinary Times might be accessible online for us mere mortals, would it ?

 

[Mojo]

I don't think it is, but there's an archive of letters on the subject here. Perhaps the new ones will be added?

 

[Blue Bubble]

I don't think it is, but there's an archive of letters on the subject here. Perhaps the new ones will be added?

Hi Mojo, I'm well aware of these ! Must have read them about a hundred times

 

[Rolfe]

I don't think it is, but there's an archive of letters on the subject here. Perhaps the new ones will be added?

Ask me nicely....

No, seriously, life's too short. Unless we get another thread like the last one, that is.

Rolfe.