16 THE ITINERANT HORSE PHYSICIAN 



The second item which had some bearing on 

 my future life was in the form of one of those 

 imported German counts. 



This gentlemen became very much attached to 

 me and as he retained quite a good many of his 

 foreign ideas about life, it became necessary for 

 me to join in his numerous sprees. I say neces- 

 sary; at least I thought so at that time. The 

 Count had control of several dollars' worth of 

 practice which was mine only so only as I was his 

 friend. 



I tried to hold up my end of the performance 

 as well as he did his, but at the end of several 

 months, I found that I was going under. 



When one gets so that he can't begin the day 

 without two or three doses of corn juice, he must 

 be going under. 



On top of this, and, of course, as a result 

 thereof, more money seemed to be going out than 

 was coming in. When my clients wanted me I 

 could not be found and so my practice soon went 

 from me. 



I had enough good sense to see how things 

 were turning out and before I went wholly on the 

 rocks, I sold my horse and buggy, promised to 

 pay my debts, and left for Texas. 



Before I left, I took the United States Civil 

 Service examination for Veterinary Inspector, 

 and successfully passed it. This was in Septem- 

 ber, 1904. 



