476 
T. B. POTE. 
to give our opinion to client just from general appearance of 
case. In such cases the veterinarian is always the loser, he 
realizing no profit from it, while owner has his opinion, and 
should the veterinarian prove incorrect, he is quoted as such 
before others and at his injury to reputation. In our examina¬ 
tions of patient we should never show in any way that we are 
not able to just make out the case. Always give an opinion, in 
defence to yourself. Show no sign that you see unaccountable 
conditions. These occur to every practitioner, and often being 
transitory, amount to nothing, and especially of no advantage to 
client. In the young practitioner, only too often in his extreme 
honesty he, by a casual remark, informs attendant and bystand¬ 
ers that it is his “ first case,” or the “first case he ever saw just 
like it.” Such remarks only affect the veterinarian in the mind 
of the client and does no good in any way. 
The veterinarian, in defence of his reputation, must use 
every precaution in giving opinions, and especially in those 
cases above mentioned, where the gain, if any, is to client and 
none to the veterinarian. When prescribing for your patient, 
do it in detail, and in your orders to attendant make them def¬ 
inite and precise. Order medicines given promptly, and on 
your second visit to patient, before proceeding with your exam¬ 
ination (which should be carried out in detail and with as much 
carefulness as before), learn if medicines have been given as 
directed and other orders carried out as given. Afterwards 
proceed with examination, but it is very important to learn if 
your medicines have been given before giving an opinion of 
case. To exemplify this, we often enter the presence of our 
patients, and seeing a marked improvement remark such, after¬ 
ward asking if our remedies have been given, we are informed 
that they have not. Thus we are placed in an embarrassing 
position, and have been shelled out of our own fort. 
Knowing in advance that our directions have not been carried 
out, we can guard our opinion of case, and protect ourselves 
even if our medicines have not been given as ordered. 
Be prompt in making your calls, even to the time of day you 
