CORRESPONDENCE. 
157 
or misrepresent the true condition of quackery in Iowa. I 
think my fellow graduates will bear me out in my statements 
descriptive of the true condition. What can be said of this 
community, can be said with equal propriety of several com¬ 
munities in Iowa. 
Now what we are after is legislation on the subject, to cor¬ 
rect the existing conditions—we that have fitted ourselves 
for the practice of veterinary medicine at a cost, including 
outfit, of from one to two thousand dollars. Should a law be 
passed in the State prohibiting none but diploma men from 
practicing, who would share the greater benefit ? It seems 
plain that the owner of the stock would get his share. In 
our clamor for a practice act in this State, it is not designed 
on our part to blot out the non-graduate that has in his pos¬ 
session such extensive libraries consisting of most of the 
books now published on veterinary science, and has such won¬ 
derful success as was alluded to by the author of the article 
now in question. If he is endowed with ability to read and 
comprehend them, it is reasonable to think that he is fully 
competent to take an examination before a Board of Veteri¬ 
nary Examiners, which in all probability would be provided 
should a practice act pass the Legislature. We want such 
men among the ranks ; we would give you a hearty welcome 
should you qualify by a test of your knowledge on the subject. 
I fear, though, that this class of men would bear a very small 
proportion to the ones before described in this article. Veteri¬ 
nary science is advancing, probably not as fast as did its sister 
profession, that of human medicine, but building slowly, advan¬ 
cing little by little on a firm basis. What is building ; is it 
quackery, or is it education ? Formerly the reputation of the 
veterinary surgeon was not one of the best among men. 
Such a state of affairs does not exist to-day where educated 
men have taken up the work. Veterinary science is begin¬ 
ning to be recognized as a science among scientific men of 
other branches of science. If such be true, as we believe it 
to be, let it be treated respectably. Now to treat it in this 
manner, let us rid the profession of so many empirics by leg¬ 
islation. It would raise the standard higher, throw out an 
