Fifty years ago a veterinary practitioner who professed an interest in poultry was hard to find and he probably did not expect to add to his income by advice or aid given on poultry disease problems. The situation has changed in the past half-century, but the opportunities which exist are still greater than the interest shown. It is equally true that the poultryman of 50 years ago seldom asked his local veterinarian for help in solving his problems. The poultry industry now recognizes that the veterinary profession plays an integral part in its economy. This change has been due to the untiring efforts of a number of individuals and agencies including the veterinary press which has been publishing an increasing number of articles on all phases of poultry research. National organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the United States Livestock Sanitary Association and Poultry Science Association, as well as their local counterpart organizations, have played major roles in convincing both the veterinarian and the poultryman that they have mutual problems and interests. The USDA, Bureau of Animal Industry (ARS), the agricultural experiment stations and veterinary schools also have done much to show both the poultryman and the veterinarian that the poultry industry needs the services of the veterinary profession. Although few practitioners were concerned with poultry disease problems 50 years ago, there were a number of veterinary scientists who already had made outstanding contributions to this field. Names of American scientists associated with early developments in poultry disease research include many who were responsible also for the early advances in other animal disease