154 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



disease be properly controlled. During the past few years I have been 

 called to examine cattle and other stock which were affected with 

 rabies, and have found in almost every case the rabid dog wliich caused 

 the disease had fought with numerous dogs through the neighbor- 

 hood. Such dogs as were exposed to the rabid dog were usually con- 

 fined for about nine days and then turned loose without any further 

 precaution. They should have been absolutely confined fox" at least 

 two years, until the danger of their developing rabies had passed. It 

 is no uncommon thing to hear of one of the exposed dogs 

 going mad six months or a year after having been bitten, 

 and in many cases after the visit of the rabid dog had been for- 

 gotten. In two different towns I found in each as many as 65 dogs 

 that, as far as we could tell, had been exposed to the rabid dog, many 

 of them having actually fought with it. Under the present law it is 

 not considered that the State Veterinarian has any authority to quar- 

 antine or cause to be confined in any way such dangerous dogs. 

 Some legislator who will take this matter up and provide a proper bill 

 has a chance to do a good piece of work for the protection of the live 

 stock of this State, and incidentally the human family. 



Almost as bad as the damage done by rabid dogs is that done by 

 ignorant persons who profess to be veterinarians, and who are going 

 about over the State offering their services to farmers who know far 

 more about the diseases of live stock than they themselves, and charg- 

 ing exorbitant fees for giving stock medicine which actually, in many 

 cases, does more harm than good. The states of Iowa and Illinois 

 have already passed laws requiring veterinarians before beginning to 

 practice to pass an examination. It seems that nearly all of those 

 who by reason of incompetence were not allowed to practice in Iowa 

 and Illinois have come to Missouri. The result is that the farmers of 

 Missouri are afforded no protection whatever from such invaders. 

 There are quite a number of competent, intelligent and honest veter- 

 inarians practicing in the State of Missouri, but nothing like the 

 number needed for the proper care of the live stock of this State. 

 The number of ignorant quacks far exceeds the number of competent 

 men, and the profession in the State today is judged largely by the 

 ignorant members of the profession. The competent veterinarian, as 

 I am glad to say, is gradually becoming understood and appreciated 

 "by the live stock producers of this State. He must have an education 

 practically the same as is required to make a man a good medical 

 <loctor. I believe, in addition to this, that the veterinary practice re- 

 quires more originality and native ability, inasmuch as the dumb 

 brutes have a very feeble way of expressing their ills. 



