238 THE NECESSITY OF A REGISTRATION BILL. 
was anticipated by the owner of the (animal) patient, or what was 
represented by “ the doctor,” then suspicions become aroused in 
the mind of the one, and the ignorance or mal-treatment of the 
other stands a chance of becoming exposed ; still, however, but a 
chance of being brought to light ; for many an ignoramus, with a 
brazen front and a smooth unscrupulous tongue, will bear down all 
such “ mishaps” as these, and still maintain his “ reputation” un- 
tarnished. 
The public, however, in medical concerns are not only liable to 
be imposed upon ; they are of themselves, in the exercise of the 
judgment they receive credit for possessing, continually running 
into error, misled by external appearances, the only criteria or 
data they have to form any opinion upon. For example, a horse 
or an ox receives a large flesh wound in some part of its body : the 
village farrier is sent for, who dresses the wound with “ hot oils” 
and “ digestives and in time , the wound, which has been kept 
long retarded in its efforts to heal by the “ remedies” made use of, 
closes up, and “ the doctor” receives credit for being “ a clever 
fellow.” Another horse having a “ wound,” though of a different 
description, such as is familiarly known by the appellation of “ poll 
evil” or “ fistula,” is taken to a veterinary surgeon to be treated ; 
and he finds it necessary to probe and dilate the sinuous cavities 
of the sore, to run setons through them perhaps, frequently to 
change his dressings, &c., not “ curing” the animal, after all, for some 
very considerable time. “ What a blundering stupid fellow ! Why 
the farrier cured his * wound’ in half the space of time.” Such is 
one example of the manner in which, and the fairness with which, 
the public are too prone to exercise their “judgment.” 
Seeing, then, that the public are both so liable to be deceived and 
to deceive themselves in venturing upon any estimate of medical 
ability, and in the exercise of a right they ever should and ever 
must possess of choosing their own “ medical man,” would it not 
be both considerate and proper on the part of the Legislature to lend 
them a little aid in putting into practice so momentous a right ? 
Would it not be prudent to afford them means of distinguishing 
those practitioners of medicine who really were by education 
qualified and licensed from those who were not? And then, if they 
persisted in employing the latter, they would know they had no 
