THE PROFESSION “ ’WAY DOWN SOUTH.” 
203 
Although the majority of practitioners do honor to their 
calling, there may be those whose only regard for their diploma 
is its use as a means for money-making, which is to be deplored. 
Of course, it ought to be the aim of everyone to do the best he 
can for himself, financially, but such is not incompatible with 
at least an effort at raising and upholding the professional 
standard. 
With regard to this latter point, we should like to allude to 
the usual headquarters of the veterinary surgeon in the South— 
and probably in other sections—and that is the livery stable. 
It seems to be a custom, which is very generally in vogue, and 
there may be some good reasons in favor of it, from the stand¬ 
point of economy to the practitioner, but, we are strongly in¬ 
clined to the opinion, that this system has done as much, if not 
more, to lower and keep down the social and professional 
standing of the veterinarian than any other, in the eyes of the 
better class of people, whose society and practice it ought to be 
his aim to cultivate, especially in city populations. 
The livery stable owner may be an honored and respected 
citizen, but everyone knows that the atmosphere and surround¬ 
ings are more calculated to degrade than to elevate a profes¬ 
sional man in the opinion of the better class of inhabitants. 
This is no empty theory, but a fact which we know to be true, 
from expressions on the subject by gentlemen who realize that 
the profession merits a much better standing. 
It is the head-office of the quack, because there he meets 
with congenial spirits of his own type, in the usual crowd of 
loafers; but why an educated veterinarian should be an attache 
of the ordinary livery stable, it is hard to reconcile with the 
desire for professional advancement. We have no criticism 
whatever to offer with regard to the livery, feed or sale stable 
businesses, they are highly honorable and legitimate industries, 
but it is the veterinary surgeon’s idea of the seemingly absolute 
necessity for identifying himself with, and making his office and 
headquarters at these establishments, which we think is 
erroneous, and is detrimental to the dignity of a profession. 
