686 
E. L. QUITMAN. 
who have a formula for a fever mixture , which is prescribed in 
all febrile diseases, it matters not whether that ailment be simply 
an ephemeral fever, a case of pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, 
lymphangitis, laminitis or perhaps cerebro-spinal meningitis ; 
and, again, it matters not what stage the disease may be in when 
the doctor is called, that fever mixture must do. Why ? 
Simply because the doctor does not know any better ; and, alas, 
we have too many of him. 
Another example. Frequently a young practitioner, one 
who maybe has been out of college perhaps five or six years, 
consults another and possibly an older veterinarian, regarding a 
certain case ; the question is asked, What treatment have you 
been giving the animal ? Too often he will answer, especially 
if both are graduates of the same college : Why, I am giving 
Dr. So-and-So’s fever mixture, or using Dr. Somebodyelse’s 
liniment; and the chances are that he will be surprised if you do 
not happen to remember those prescriptions ; it does not occur to 
him that there are some men who think for themselves, who 
are not constantly using some one else’s brains. 
The most successful practitioner can only be so by thinking 
for himself, following no single line of treatment, and by study¬ 
ing and knowing the individual drugs, their characteristics, 
physiological action, therapeutical application, how and why 
they produce certain effects and their doses, as well as correct 
method and proper time of administration. Study these, and 
not “ prescriptions ” ; know them, and when called to a case pre¬ 
scribe only the drugs that are indicated, and not limit yourself 
to a few general prescriptions. It is the application of the right 
drug at the right time and in the right place that will cure dis¬ 
ease and bring you success. 
I will give you another and more common illustration—“ a 
shot that will hit more birds.” How many veterinarians are 
there who would not think of starting the treatment of such 
diseases as laminitis, lymphangitis, tetanus, colics, skin diseases 
and other inflammatory diseases without the administration of 
a purgative. Have you stopped to think whether or not this is 
