Veterinary Surgeons
1834 T E Evans, Veterinary Surgeon, 'Begs to inform the Noblemen, Gentlemen and Farmers of Ashburton and its neighbourhood that he has commenced practising in Ashburton, and begs to assure those who may place their horses and cattle under his care that every attention shall be paid to them...'
Mr Evans made his own medicines: they included Evans' Cordial Astringent Drink for calves and lambs; Evans' Liquid Blister, for lameness; and Cordial Condition Balls for horses, especially recommended for sporting gentlemen.
Western Times 1 March 1834 p1 col2

In the 1841 census Thomas Steer, aged roughly 35, is a veterinary surgeon living in East Street. With him are five younger Steers, presumably his children: Elizabeth, George, Ruth, Henry and Edward.
1841 census HO107 piece no. 253, folio 20, p35

Thomas Stear, a horse and cattle doctor, is still in East Street in 1851. He has a wife, Ruth, 45, and two more children, and his son George is now an assistant to a horse and cattle doctor.
1851 census, piece no. 1871, folio 292, p13

At about the same time John Steer is a veterinary surgeon in East Street
History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire, William White, Sheffield, 1850, p466

Thomas and George Stear, cattle doctors, are still in East Street in 1861*
1861 census RG09, piece no. 1405, folio 31, p11
* Although the transcription on Findmypast has Thomas as 'Visitor head' I believe the 'visitor' designation actually belongs to the person above.

'In those days of course the horse reigned supreme, to whose existence the veterinary surgeon, the blacksmith, the saddler and the wheelwright were complimentary. I well remember one vet was appropriately named Steer.'
The recollections of Reg Andrews, writing in 1978.
With many thanks to Dave Hodge-Brooks and Ernie Smerdon.

July 1884 George Stear, having passed all the necessary examinations, was admitted to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London.
He had been educated at Ashburton Grammar School
Western Times 11 July 1884 p7 col2
Western Times 1 August 1884 p7 col4

George Stear, veterinary surgeon, was summoned in 1905 for infringing a by-law whilst building a house. An old property had been demolished, and a new one built, but a surveyor opined that a wall was dangerous and a risk in case of fire. The owner of the adjoining property described the Council's action as 'Bumbledom'.

Western Times 19 May 1905 p2 col7

1894 Thomas Maynard, veterinary surgeon, died in November. He had been a member of the Ashburton Volunteers for 32 years, and was secretary of Branch 34 of the Rational Sick and Burial Society.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 5 November 1894 p4 col5

In 1910 Edward Drew, veterinary surgeon of Ashburton, gave evidence at the Petty Sessions regarding the condition of a mare. Mrs Anne Whiteway had been summoned for driving the mare in an unfit condition, but the case was dismissed.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 14 October 1910 p7 col4