The length of the veterinary curriculum was the source of dissension and discord during the formative 19th century years of our profession. The curricular length varied from two brief terms of study (at some for-profit schools), to four full academic years (at Cornell, before it became a state college). The battle for the three-year curriculum had been waged for over two decades. Now that it had been achieved, both sides began to prepare for another round to address the desirability for a four-year curriculum.