THE VETERINARIAN AS A MEMBER OF SOCIETY. 
179 
Representations as to the necessity for certain measures should 
be well founded and the urgency for their adoption brought 
prominently forward. If they are disregarded, the injurious con¬ 
sequences which may result ought to be pointed out, so as not 
only to protect himself from blame, but also to warn the authori¬ 
ties of the danger of their supineness or neglect. 
Having shown the importance of the veterinary surgeon to a 
community during the reign of a disease, let us for a few mo¬ 
ments consider his minor qualifications and no less important 
responsibilities. * 
In doing this I take it for granted that due allowance is made 
him for the various auxiliary branches of science, such as agri¬ 
culture, geology, climatic influences, chemistry, botany, etc., with¬ 
out the knowledge of which he would be incompetent to counsel 
or assist in preventing diseases of a contagious character. 
I will consider his position in society while practicing his or¬ 
dinary avocation. In this he differs very little from the physi¬ 
cian, being in every sense a public benefactor and servant, sub¬ 
ject to call at all times to relieve some person’s animal from dis¬ 
tress or injury—ministering to the relief and comfort of the 
animal kingdom as the physician does to man. This ministering 
to the dumb brutes, who are unable to make known their feelings 
or portray their sufferings, and his skill in the preservation of 
these valuable creatures which man has domesticated, should 
alone entitle him to no little regard from all humanitarians. If 
through his skill he is able to relieve the sharp pains and suffer¬ 
ings which at times afflict our lower animals—often being caused 
by the fault or ignorance of their owners and the enforced, un¬ 
natural mode of existence consequent on domestication—he 
must, it seems to me, constitute a member of society whose ser¬ 
vices we can ill afford to dispense with. His counsel and advice 
regarding the management, breeding, care and feeding of domes¬ 
tic animals is often sought by breeders and owners with good re¬ 
sults and a saving of time and money. In fact, his presence in a 
community is so necessary and important that a municipality 
without a practicing veterinary surgeon is to be pitied indeed. 
When we look upon an animal taken away from its fellows 
