398 THE MEANS OF PREVENTION. 



the establishment of veterinary schools, it may not be inappropriate 

 for me to inform you that there are two so-called ' colleges ' in this 

 city, which are unfortunately chartered by the State. The men 

 composing these ' colleges ' are all quacks ; they do not attempt to 

 teach anything — were that possible for them — yet they sell diplo- 

 mas or degrees to men who wish to practice. It is said they do 

 pretend to require a sort of an examination before they issue these 

 valuable papers." ... In the city of New York there are three 

 chartered, non-regulated veterinary schools. 



Let us endeavor to look for a moment at the results of this purely 

 American system of medical institutions : 



1. From the want of uniformity and the lack of responsibility 

 on the part of many institutions, the " M. D." of the young graduate 

 is rendered next to worthless until we have made inquiries into his 

 antecedents. 



2. Most of them being poorly endowed and in many cases beg- 

 garly institutions, one may observe a most disgraceful rivalry for 

 students, which is borne witness to by the business character of 

 their catalogues. 



The entire reason for these disgraceful conditions is to be sought 

 in the lack of appreciation for true science which exists not only in 

 the profession, but with the people as well. The curse of America 

 is her overestimated " practicality." The most unmitigated of 

 humbugs is often spoken of as " a man of great practical ability." 

 Superficial betokens the Americanism of to-day. Sterling integ- 

 rity, which is said to have been a characteristic of our forefathers, 

 seems soon to be destined to a place among the lost arts. Fraud 

 prevails ! It is nourished, and, if successful, the stigma is soon 

 buried beneath the glitter of the externals. The American people 

 seem to love fraud. In no other country, unless it be England, can 

 disgraceful quacks and humbugs flourish in every department of 

 life as they do here. " A free fight and no favor," seems to be the 

 motto governing our legislators, who apparently have entirely for- 

 gotten that the people they are supposed to represent — which they 

 seldom do — are being consumed and plundered by these impostors. 

 Humanity, as a whole, is still a babe in " swaddling-clothes." It 

 still needs protection from itself. Only a few individuals have as 

 yet been able to stand alone ; and still fewer to furnish serviceable 

 props for others. The second cause of these evils, with reference 

 to the medical schools, must be charged to the State. We have 

 too many. Education in them has become a business instead of a 

 science. In no State should there be more than one medical school. 



