FAREWELL TO ABILENE 111 



Likewise, I have known, personally, of several 

 cases of catarrh of the facial sinuses produced by 

 a decayed tooth in which a quack ordered the 

 horses killed, thinking them glandered. I know 

 of a case where a quack was called to assist a 

 mare in foaling. After he arrived and examined 

 the mare he decided that he could not get the 

 colt away. Instead of telling the farmer that 

 the case was too much for him and requesting a 

 consultation or other veterinary assistance, he 

 sent the farmer into the house after some soap; 

 while the farmer was in the house he gave the 

 mare a large dose of strychnine, from which she 

 died within an hour. I know of cases, to which I 

 was called later, which in the start were simple 

 conditions, but which had been converted into 

 very grave affections by improper treatment. 

 Right here, where I am practicing today, there 

 are quacks who treat other people's animals and 

 charge them for it, but when their own animals 

 or some of their relatives' animals get sick they 

 call me in. 



One thing I know, and that is this : A grad- 

 uate, if he does not benefit a case, will certainly 

 not do it any harm. He knows his anatomy and 

 physiology; these two alone will keep him from 

 harming the patient. From lack of anatomical 

 knowledge I knew a quack to cut out, in its 

 entirety, the patella of a horse, presuming thereby 

 to correct a claudication. From the same lack 

 of knowledge I knew a quack to tap a cow for 

 bloat, through the lateral processes of the lumbar 

 vertebrae. 



