294 
S. R. HOWARD. 
business rule, or are not uneasy about what he owes us. If 
we foster such notions, a bad system will grow up around us 
and great, irreparable loss will ensue. Asking for payment 
reminds them that there is a little of the human left about us, 
even if we are veterinary surgeons, and that we and our fami¬ 
lies have to live, and we must have our fees to enable us to 
do so. A good motto for a billhead is, “All bills collected at 
the end of every six months,” also “ Prompt payment fully 
appreciated.” 
A poor man may be forced into the position of a dishonest 
one, by you allowing his bills to accumulate until he cannot 
pay them. The very best time to talk business and have an 
understanding about your fees is at the first visit. If called 
to attend an animal surrounded by a crowd, always enquire 
who the owner is and who has charge of the animal, and then 
ask him if he sent for you. Again, sometimes grooms or 
drivers will send for you. Go, but send them to the proprie¬ 
tors immediately, or go yourself as soon as convenient, or let 
them know the nature of your attendance and come to a defi¬ 
nite understanding. Some will drop you to escape paying 
an old bill, and then employ someone else and lie on you to 
cover up their obligation to you. 
When you send a bill enter on your ledger the date of 
sending it, thus i-S-’qo. If a bill is just, stick to it and do 
not allow yourself to be brow-beaten into the position that it 
is not. Explain the difference between an ordinary visit and 
surgical attendance. Never undercharge for your services 
with a view of obtaining business, or in any other odious 
sense, for you will find men that only have two or four horses 
will employ you more than some that own fifty. Small fees 
are set off against small skill—in public opinion. 
There is a great difference in under-bidding in our profes¬ 
sion and that of ordinary commerce. We have no goods to 
manufacture or sell, and where one veterinary surgeon is de¬ 
termined to triumph, and the other resolved to prevail, they 
can keep up the storm of rivalry and efforts to crush or banish 
each other for years ; give their skill to everybody for insig¬ 
nificant or nominal fees, impoverish one another and almost 
starve those depending on them for support. 
