CHAPTER XV 



FAREWELL TO ABILENE 



Of Abilene and the country around it, I have 

 many pleasant memories. That year, when I 

 was there, the prospects for a cotton crop were 

 exceptionally good and the farmers were spend- 

 ing their money freely. Abilene had outgrown 

 the cattle business and cotton was king. West of 

 Abilene there was some cotton, but more cattle. 

 A few years later, though, I saw a cotton gin at 

 Monahans, which is about two hundred miles west 

 of Abilene. 



At the time of which I write, Texas had no 

 laws regulating the practice of veterinary medi- 

 cine and surgery, and the state was swarming 

 with quacks. 



When I recall to mind some of the work I have 

 seen done in the name of veterinary science, I can 

 almost bring tears to my eyes. I have seen 

 animals submitted to the most cruel tortures by 

 some of these quacks for the most simple and 

 benign conditions or diseases. 



The greatest harm, however, which follows on 

 the trail of one of these defamers of a worthy 

 profession is the seeds of ignorance which they 

 sow and cultivate among farmers. Besides this 

 they are, as a rule, dishonest. 



I have personally known of several instances in 

 which a certain quack wilfully infected horses 

 promiscuously in a certain small town by smear- 



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