416 
JOSEPH W. PARKER. 
portance of the subject. The public is to be reached iu three 
ways, viz.: Through personal contact ; from the speaker’s plat¬ 
form, and through publications. 
First in importance is personal influence. To have intimately 
known a man of high honor, is to have an exalted opinion of 
man in general ; the community that has been fortunate enough 
to have in its midst a qualified, honorable veterinarian has had 
its opinion of that profession elevated and broadened. No mat¬ 
ter whether the doctor be eloquent or not, or whether he be able 
to write a convincing article in the most polished language, if 
he is one of Nature’s noblemen, honest, conscientous, diligent 
and thorough in business and courteous in his business and 
social intercourse, he is elevating his profession in the minds of 
his patrons and fellow citizens. He shows forth in a very prac¬ 
tical and convincing way that his personal interests are in har¬ 
mony with the interests of his patrons, and with the public 
good. 
While it is essential that our calling shall be regarded favor¬ 
ably as a learned and highly useful calling, our demands for 
legislation must be for those things which are to the interest of 
the public. The profession is dignified by the earnestness with 
which we seek after the public good, not primarily selfish inter¬ 
ests. Whatever degree of respect the title “ veterinarian” com¬ 
mands is the result of the silent teaching of a very limited num¬ 
ber of veterinarians (for in these States we are few and far be¬ 
tween), and in spite of the disrepute resulting from itinerary 
practice of hundreds of quacks. By maintaining among the 
profession a high standard of personal and professional ethics, 
thus increasing the usefulness of the calling, favorable opinions 
must be won of the public before they may be expected to listen 
to veterinarians in matters of legislation. 
For reaching people interested I believe that farmers’ insti¬ 
tutes offer opportunities promising good results. If arrange¬ 
ments can be made with the promoters of farmers’ institutes to 
place a veterinarian on each programme whenever practicable, 
doubtless competent men can be found who for their interest in 
