THE PROFESSION “ ’WAY DOWN SOUTH.” 
205 
own coffers, try to throw a professional halo around their own 
head, which would illumine much of the darkness and help 
dispel the ignorance under which we are laboring, and thereby 
add to the dignity of our honorable calling. 
Another point worthy of mention in this connection, which 
we think often militates against the social success and dignity 
of the veterinarian who is part and parcel of the livery or feed 
stable, and that is, when one is requested to examine horses for 
clients. 5 A gentleman wishing to purchase a horse or pair of 
horses subject to examination, should it be from the establish¬ 
ment to which the examining V. S. is attached, he naturally is 
inclined to feel that the examination is apt to be in favor of the 
seller. It may be unreasonable to think so, but why shouldn’t 
he ? Even if the surgeon is perfectly independent and gives a 
conscientious opinion—and we hope all do—the very fact of his 
seeming connection with the vendor is sufficient often to shake 
the confidence of the buyer in his veracity, which reflection 
extends further than to the mere individual. 
These instances quoted are not for the purpose of condemn¬ 
ing the custom referred to, and the possibilities accruing there¬ 
from as positive evils, per se, but we think it can be easily seen 
how such a custom is more calculated to prevent proper pro¬ 
fessional recognition and retard our progress, as a profession, 
than otherwise. 
The veterinary surgeon is an individual on whose opinion 
and integrity his client has to rely, and which mean a great 
deal. That opinion should be straightforward and scrupulously 
honest, no matter how it hurts, but if, through business or other 
relations, we leave room for the honesty of our opinion to be 
doubted, then we do harm, and we must remember that not 
only are we the individual sufferers morally, but our profession 
more so. 
We have said the present system is an old one, and it will 
no doubt take a long time to make any radical changes, if ever, 
and it may occur to some that we are condemning without 
advocating any means for improvement. We would, however, 
