436 
JACOB HELMER. 
It is evident that the creation of a State Board at this time 
was natural and was wholly the result of necessity because up to 
this time protective legislation had proven a farce, since hun¬ 
dreds of illegal registrations appeared upon the books. To pro¬ 
hibit illegal registration was, however, only one of the functions 
of the Board. Its work was to take a higher and a wider range. 
It was vested with legal power to conduct the examination of 
graduates as to their qualifications in stated branches, to pass 
upon diplomas and to require a three instead of a two-year veter¬ 
inary course, to issue a license, to attach the seal of the state, 
to record licenses and to keep a book of registration contain¬ 
ing the names of all legal practitioners. Incidentally, State 
Boards like this have influence to raise the standard of veterinary 
education throughout the country, to cause the adoption of bet¬ 
ter college curriculums and more thorough instruction in the 
branches taught, and to regulate the moving of practitioners from 
state to state. It has the opportunity of becoming acquainted 
with every practitioner in the commonwealth and to enlist his 
interest and co-operation. In other words, to unify the profes¬ 
sion in spirit and aim, thus making it a ready power to’ act as 
a unit against things inimical to its interests or to promote gen¬ 
eral welfare. Unity in a profession is a great power, and we 
could have bestowed upon us no greater blessings than unity and 
harmony. Our Board voices the sentiments of the profession; 
is its attorney and labors uniformly for its elevation. Its work 
(unless abnormal) is wholly of a constructive character, and it 
is a bulwark of the profession. 
The number of State Boards is rapidly increasing. One by 
one the states are falling' in line. Each state adopting such a 
course does something tangible to better veterinary education. 
Eventually graduates from all schools must compete for a license. 
Naturally State Boards are anxious to protect the profession 
and by mutual agreement between them the good of the profes¬ 
sion will not be difficult. 
Thus State Boards are a powerful factor in all questions of 
