154 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
and letting the overflowing fountain of my “ undoubted talent 
run wild.” Now, isn’t it true that a recent rasping the Doctor 
received from us had some potency in pumping into him some 
of this u profound respect ” for my recently despised but now 
profoundly respected compeers ? I have stated in this article 
that this State Examining Board admits having licensed men 
to practice who are absolutely unqualified. With their qualifi¬ 
cations this Board claims to have nothing to do. In the name 
of outraged decency and honor, and in behalf of the profession 
at large, I say : Shame on such official infamy. Mr. Editor, I 
will prove every allegation I have uttered ; and truthfully paint 
this incompetent Board so black that the aroused profession 
must remove them. 
In answer to my letter of December 16, 1899, in which I 
severely criticised the Board for its shameful conduct, I have 
the Secretary’s answer defending the Board’s action. He does 
not deny granting licenses to every applicant, but says the law 
(prior to January 1st, 1900) compels them so to do, provided 
the applicant proves that he has practised three years or has a 
diploma. Thus armed, and, barring only by immoral charac¬ 
ter, this guileless goodly Board says it is compelled to grant 
licenses to every applicant or be subjected to mandamus pro¬ 
cess, compelling it to violate the trust imposed in it. Such is 
the Secretary’s interpretation of the law, by which he justifies 
the Board’s guilt prior to 1900. “ But,” says he, “ after the time 
limit (January 1, 1900) of this law, then rest assured that not 
only non-graduates but all holders of diplomas from two-year 
colleges will be compelled to come before the Board and pass the 
examination as required by the law.” Holy Moses! I said, here 
is a virtuous deliverance that could only come from an immac¬ 
ulate conception. Prior to January 1, 1900, the Board claimed 
that the law bound them to license every applicant, and they 
did so, freely—for the fee ; but, the law explicitly states that 
an examination before this Board of examiners touching the 
applicant’s qualifications to practice veterinary medicine and 
surgery in the State of Illinois “ shall be discretionary with the 
Boards This the Secretary of the Board denies ; hence their 
wholesale licensing and cowardly cringing before every illiter¬ 
ate tramp that came before them holding up the fee. 
We respectfully submit that the law not only permitted but 
made it the, imperative duty of this Board to examine these men 
under the law prior to the time limit when they had a suspicion of 
the applicant's utter incompetency , aud especially when such sus- 
