HOEN-AIL DOCTORS. .'529 



reply. You all feel the need of it. But 1io\y shall it be 

 done, and who shall take this important work in hand? The 

 public must assume the responsibility, and thus control the 

 matter. And as you encourage this veterinary calling, you 

 will contribute to the improvement of the sanitary condition 

 of live-stock throughout the land ; and thus confer a lasting 

 blessing upon humanity as the result of your labors in such a 

 noble cause. 



But the demands of agriculture on veterinary science are 

 important to the former in more than one point of view. 

 Financially considered, this calling is indispensable to the 

 welfare of every live-stock man in the country, when fully 

 considered in all its relations. There is a pressing need in 

 our community for more accurate knowledge on all the 

 diseases of domestic animals ; and it is surprising to see 

 how little attention is paid to this subject, by those who are 

 familiar with the general progress of knowledge in other 

 avocations of life. You will often see the manufticturer 

 watching the movements of his ten thousand spindles, and 

 employing the best talent of the age to keep them in repair, 

 and yet he will allow his horse, which is almost as precious to 

 him as his family, to be doctored, and perhaps by one of the 

 most ignorant men in the town. And whatever may be the 

 result, the owner is sure to be satisfied ; for this horse-doctor, 

 so called, has the reputation of being able to give the crea- 

 ture "something that will be good for whatever ails him," no 

 matter what that may be. No questions are asked ; for the 

 dose is a secret, but is said to perform most wonderful cures. 



With this criterion before us, do you wonder that vet- 

 erinary science is so unpopular with the masses of the people ? 

 For were it otherwise the "cow-doctor" would not see a clear 

 case of horn-ail in every sick creature to which he might be 

 called. Yet few can imagine how very prevalent this so- 

 called disease has been, and with what unerring certainty, as 

 they claim, it has been cured by a drench of salt and vinegar 

 or soft-soap, turpentine and black pepper poured into the ears, 

 and also into the horns through a gimlet-hole in the same. 

 I need not tell you that this affection exists entirely in the 

 mind of such a practitioner, but never in the creature's horn. 

 And so it is with various other imaginary afiections for which 



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