Caduceus Vetenaire - Symbol of the American Veterinary Society Helping Pets Fund Kennebunk Animal Shelter

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Caduceus Veternarie

The wand of Hermes or Mercury consisting of a winged staff with two serpents entwined; used as a symbol of the medical profession and as the emblem of most military Medical Corps. Another symbol of medicine is the staff of Æsculapius, which is the official insignia of the American Medical Association. The American Veterinary Medical Association uses a modification of the caduceus as an emblem. The staff is unwinged, there is a single serpent instead of two, and a large V is imprinted over the whole.

An adaptation of the caduceus, with only one snake winding itself around the staff is the emblem of the Veterinary Corps of the US Army.

Source: Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition, by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier