Pets’n’Vets has announced that it is burying a veterinary time capsule under its new Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital being built on the southside of Glasgow.

Brainchild of Pets’n’Vets partner Ross Allan, the idea is that the capsule will reveal to future generations how the cutting edge veterinary facility in Glasgow looked in 2015 and help show just how far veterinary science has developed when it is opened in 2115.

Ross said: "The aim of the time capsule is to document the memories, hopes and dreams of our staff at this exciting point in our story, and preserve them as best we can for discovery in 100 years."

The capsule, which was curated with help from The Veterinary History Society and the British Library, contains:

• Personal statements from staff, outlining their current roles in practice and their hopes for the future.
• A statement from George Leslie MRCVS, who retired in 2010 having founded the practice in 1979.
• Photographs of the staff and practice.
• The most recent issues of the Vet Record, JSAP and the Veterinary History Society Journal.
• A full copy of the Vet Futures report, so that future generations can look back and see just how right - or wrong - the document is and whether the profession addressed the challenges and met the opportunities in the profession today.
• A titanium TTA forked plate, fork, cage and self-tapping screws, as future "memorabilia of early 21st century cruciate surgery".
• A 6 hole dynamic compression plate (DCP) with self-tapping screws.

Ross said: "As an orthopaedic surgeon, I’m used to dealing with cutting edge metal plates, screws and pins when fixing fractured legs, but helping develop this capsule was an entirely new challenge for me. It is very rewarding to use great science to preserve these memories as best we can.

"The time capsule has been designed with this in mind: maintaining optimal humidity, zero oxygen and steady temperature. It will be welded shut before being flushed with argon gas, all measures to help preserve the photos, letters and other contents for those that are lucky enough to open it."

In order preserve the contents as best as possible, Ross sought the advice of Glasgow Museums, which advised including archive quality paper and ink to prevent fading of writing and images, as well as the use of corrosion bags to contain the metallic surgical implants.

"I thought it would be fun to include the implants we currently use for cruciate surgery," said Ross. "This is one aspect of veterinary surgery that has especially progressed over the last 30 years and will doubtlessly continue to progress in the years ahead."

David Thomson, Preventative Conservation Officer, Glasgow Museums, added: "Sending things safely into the future is very like preserving the collections we have in the Museum. The Veterinary Time Capsule meets the highest standards for slowing down the normal ageing effects of our environment and we wish it well on its journey through time."

The time capsule has been registered with the International Time Capsule Society (ITCS) at Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, USA. 

Ross said: "This will ensure the capsule is followed up and not, like the majority, lost forever," said Ross. "When opened, the contents should offer a snapshot into Scottish 21^st Century veterinary medicine and perhaps it can offer a small legacy to the future of veterinary medicine too.

"Veterinary medicine is going through a huge transition at present – the scope of what is available today is poles apart from what was possible even 10 years ago – and we are delighted to help document its development in Glasgow to this point. Just what might be possible when the capsule is opened in 2115 is mind boggling!"

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