252 
EDITORIAL. 
have been more numerous and emphatic amongst the scientit 
veterinarians of France than those of any other nation. T1 
mother-land of veterinary science; the country where the fir; 
veterinary school was established ; it is yet, within hei limit 
probably, that quackery most extensively flourishes and imposte 
most numerously abound. While her large cities may be fr< 
from empirics, the smaller towns and country districts are crow 
ed with these parasites of the profession. Educated and accoi 
plished veterinary surgeons have time and again complained < 
this disgraceful state of things, which allows ignorance and pi- 
sumption to compete with skill and experience. Veterinary s 
cieties, veterinary schools and veterinary journals have in mai 
instances called the attention of the government to the subje 
and persistent demands have been made for a law for the regal 
tion of the practice of veterinary medicine. No attention, ho 
ever, has yet been paid to the general complaint, and the coni 
tion continues unchanged to-day. 
England has been for many years in the same condition, a 
while she may not be as free from empirical pretenders as s 
might, the practice of veterinary medicine is, we believe, ney 
theless favored with quite a fair amount of protective regulatu 
and the title of Veterinary Surgeon, and the standing of the n 
ularly educated practitioner well vindicated by the uniform • 
o*ree granted to the graduates of the various schools. This, it 
known, has been accomplished in England by the recognition* 
has been obliged to grant to practitioners who, though not gra- 
ated, had been in practice for a stated number of years. Uni 
we misunderstand the law of England, it now prohibits the 
sumption of the title of Veterinary Surgeon by any person 
registered as a regular member of the Uoyal College of Vet 
nary Surgeons. 
Though organized veterinary medicine in America is still 
a youthful institution, our qualified graduates have for some t 
realized the necessity of obtaining some protective legislation, 
which their status might be recognized and established, and eff< 
have been made in several States at various times, to obtain fi 
their respective Legislatures the enactment of suitable laws on 
