EDITORIAL. 
283 
to secure proper legislation, and will fail ; others will do the 
same, and will partially succeed, for the time being, only to 
become complete masters of the profession a little later; and 
others, probably in small numbers, will at length reach the end 
of their labors, to wit—the enactment of laws for the regulation 
of veterinary practice in such a manner that, once for all, 
quackery will be doomed within their boundaries. We have 
quite a piece of good news from California, where, in the 
Poultry Cultivator , Dr. R. I. Whittlesey, D.V.S., makes the 
following statements : 
After two previous failures a third attempt proved a charm, and a bill regu¬ 
lating the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery in California was passed 
at the last session of the legislature. 
It had very little opposition, and it passed as introduced, without mutilation. 
It is the best law on this subject in the United States, and is as liberal 
toward the non-graduates as they could ask. 
By this act the Governor appoints an Examining Board of five veterinarians, 
whose business it shall be to hold examinations periodically at San Francisco 
and Los Angeles, when all who wish to practice in the State must procure a 
license. Graduates submit their diploma, and if it is all right receive a license. 
Non-graduates must pass an examination sufficiently strict to satisfy a majority 
of the board, when a license will be issued to them. 
These licenses must be recorded with the county clerk in the county in which 
they are to be used, and then kept displayed in the office or place of business. 
The law went into effect on the 24th of May last. 
The board consists of Dr. Maclay, of Petaluma; Dr. Archibald, of Sacra¬ 
mento; Dr. Spencer, of San Jose ; Dr. Rowland, of Pasadena, and Dr. Whittle¬ 
sey, of Los Angeles. 
The first examination took place at the Baldwin Hotel, San Francisco, May 
24th ; the second at the Hollenbeck Hotel, Los Angeles, June 26th. 
All non-graduates who fail to pass their first examination have the privilege 
of coming up at any future examination until December 31st, 1893, after which 
non-graduates are barred, and only graduates need apply. 
It works no hardships, as the quacks are given ample time for preparation, 
and if they are successful are elevated to the standard of graduates without 
nearly the same effort or expense. 
After all have had opportunities for receiving their license the illegal practi¬ 
tioners will be prosecuted, and even if they should not be molested the public 
can know who they are and need not employ them. Their bills cannot be col¬ 
lected. 
The law will be a great protection to the public, who have for years been 
imposed upon by a horde of unscrupulous practitioners. 
The non-graduates came from all parts of Southern California, San Luis 
Obispo, Fresno, and, in fact, nearly every town of any size was represented. 
The examination took up two days and part of the nights. 
