There is a saying  “A dog may be man's best friend...but the horse wrote history”. I’m Jeff Keane and in a moment you’ll learn  how a dozen horses in New York City saved the lives of thousands of children. In the late 1800’s diphtheria was one of the most common killers of children .We  have a cure today thanks in part to thirteen horses stabled at the New York College of Veterinary Surgeons. Here is Susan Allen.  Starting in the late 1800’s and for nearly twenty  years horses were used to produce diphtheria antitoxin. After being injected with the toxin the horses immune system would formulate a serum that was purified by researchers to create antibodies that would  neutralize the germs’ poison.   In the majority of cases most  horses suffered only minor loss of appetite, but unfortunately some horses with weaker immune systems succumbed to the disease. The horse in the early 1900’s was  still regarded as  transportation yet their contribution to save children’s  lives touched the hearts of people worldwide who dubbed them the “antitoxin horses”. In 1906 the horses were moved to a lush farm and when horse based diphtheria vaccines were phased out, it was specified that the horses would retire on   the  175 acre spread.  A happy ending for the  antitoxin horses, unsung  equine heroes of history. I’m Jeff Keane.