202 
W. H. DALRYMPLE. 
We find in some states South—and we presume it is the 
case to some extent all over the country—men of the “flying 
specialist ” order, so-called veterinary dentists, cure-alls, etc., 
poaching on the territory, and at the very doors of the qualified 
veterinarian, taking barrels of money out of the pockets of the 
unwary stock-owner by charlatanism, and depriving the prac¬ 
titioner of that which ought to be his. We feel surprised, and 
exclaim, “ however can people be fooled in such a manner, 
when there are qualified men right in their midst ? ” An im¬ 
portant question seems to arise right here : Are we, by legiti¬ 
mate and professional methods, forcing ourselves and the 
importance of our profession before the eyes of the public ? Are 
we trying to convince the people, that by our superior knowl¬ 
edge, qualifications and conduct, we are more worthy of their 
confidence and esteem than the empiric and swindler, and that 
we are the jealous guardians of the integrity of a noble branch 
of medicine, whose beneficent results are so far-reaching in 
preventing and alleviating the sufferings of the dumb animals, 
as well as playing a most important part in controlling and 
eradicating transmissible diseases which are fatal to humanity ? 
It is beyond doubt that a good work is being done in those 
states who have veterinarians attached to the staff of their. Ex¬ 
periment Stations—their position affording them a favorable 
opportunity to enlighten the people on the possibilities and ad¬ 
vantages of veterinary science, when professionally applied, in 
contradistinction to the ignorant and often barbarous methods 
of the illiterate quack, or even those who are qualified, in the 
eye of the law, by being possessed of a piece of sheepskin. A 
profession is elevated or degraded by its representatives. A 
public who have been from time immemorial, accustomed to 
empiricism, cannot be expected to realize or appreciate the 
wonderful changes in the “horse doctor,” brought about by suit¬ 
able education and training, unless the practitioner himself 
keeps abreast of the advances of his profession, both profess¬ 
ionally and socially, for it is the man who makes his profession 
what it is. 
