PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE. 
401 
When the impression gets abroad that there are several scales 
of fees among veterinary surgeons for the same class of service, 
the effect this gives rise to is an unhealthy one for the profession 
generally. Surely an understanding may be easily arrived at on 
this point and something be accomplished in the direction of 
establishing uniform fees in such cases. Continuance of this 
irregularity must eventually lead to a state of affairs highly de¬ 
moralizing to the profession and well worthy of being described 
as “levelling down.” There is enough of common interest here 
to spur on all who have the future interest of the veterinary 
profession at heart to take action towards the adoption of a uni¬ 
form system of charges. I have known instances of practitioners 
agreeing to perform an operation for a low fee simply to obtain 
a case, when there was not the slightest occasion to make any 
•reduction whatever. Still a client, however willing to pay 
proper fees, will not fail to take advantage of precedents thus 
set, when he finds it necessary on a subsequent occasion to bring 
in veterinary assistance. 
Perhaps the most important matter on which veterinarians 
■should come to an agreement as to the course to be pursued 
towards one another when there is a change of practitioner. 
There is undoubtedly great room for a well defined policy in 
these cases. The laxity of many veterinary surgeons in this re¬ 
gard is much to be deplored. I cannot conceive of any relation 
between veterinarians of such delicacy as this. Failure to live 
up to rigid professional etiquette must certainly have in the long 
run a most hurtful effect on all practitioners. It becomes very 
important, therefore, for veterinarians to lay down a course for 
their common guidance, commended alike by sound sense and 
propriety. 
_ While I do not for a moment question the right of owners of 
animals to change the practitioner; yet there should be. some 
check to those exhibitions of impatience that are sometimes 
capriciously indulged in when a horse is being treated. More¬ 
over, the interests of the animal demand it. Practitioners who 
are called in second-hand should insist on a consultation with 
