THE FUTURE OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
185 
Who would have dreamed fifteen years ago, when the first cum¬ 
bersome bicycles were built, that to-day millions of wheels would 
be in use all over the world, and that to ride a wheel would be 
considered part of a liberal education. The bicycle is no fad 
that will die out as the result of the violence with which it took 
hold of the popular fancy; but a useful invention of great prac¬ 
tical utility, which, as roads are improved, will become the al¬ 
most universal mode of conveyance. 
The motor-cycle and horseless carriage, which at the present 
time seem bulky and impracticable, will within a short time be¬ 
come so improved that the horse will be supplanted. 
Now comes the ultimatum. Granting that the demand for 
the services of our equine friends is on the decrease, where is the 
veterinarian to find a market for his professional skill ? The 
municipal, state and federal offices can employ but a limited 
number of veterinary surgeons. The balance must of necessity 
be content to earn a scant livelihood by means of the deteriorated 
general practice, or leave the profession to engage in more 
remunerative employment. 
The higher educational requirements for matriculation into 
veterinary colleges, the longer curriculum. State licensing boards 
and protective veterinary legislation, have done much for the 
profession and will serve to keep out the undesirable element. 
As the number of students grows less, some of the colleges be¬ 
ing private enterprises without funded capital behind them, and 
depending solely upon lecture fees for their support, will of 
necessity be driven to the wall. The result cannot help being 
beneficial to the profession at large. Better have five good col¬ 
leges in the United States than fifteen struggling along day 
after day handicapped at every turn by the lack of funds. 
There always will be a demand for educated veterinarians, 
and as their field of usefulness broadens it will devolve upon the 
colleges to give more attention to the essentially scientific 
studies embraced in the curriculum, viz.: Pathology, bacteri¬ 
ology, microscopy, chemistry, hygiene, botany, sanitary medi¬ 
cine and meat and milk inspection. Within these fields lies 
