850 
CORRESPONDENCE 
the tarsus nor metacarpal bones. He could not locate any sec¬ 
tion of the vertebra nor even the coccix. He was ignorant of 
the number of costals. He knew absolutely nothing of anat- 
omy, physiology, pathology, materia rnedica, symptomatology, 
therapeutics nor surgery, and yet this man was graduated by 
this State Board of Veterinary Medical and Surgical Examin¬ 
ers to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in the State of 
Illinois. After being rejected by our committee, he came be¬ 
fore and was questioned by the association, including Dr. W. J. 
Martin and Dr. N. P. Whitmore, of the Illinois State Veterinary 
Medical Association, and numerous others, to whom he declared 
that he had passed the requisite examination before the State 
Board and that he had their permit to practice in his pocket. 
He stated the board asked him the following questions : Are 
you married ? How many children ? What are you worth ? 
How long have you practiced? If he could castrate and spay, 
and was questioned principally on these latter, and he declared 
it as his belief that the board sought to secure his methods of 
spaying and castration. We had some doubt on these points, 
but finally he convinced us. Their first demand on him, he 
said, was the fee of twenty dollars. He asked that in case of 
failure in passing, if they would refund the fee? They said : 
“ No, but that need not disturb him because he would pass be¬ 
yond all question.” And he passed. 
I will cite only one other case from any number I might, 
who passed this brilliant and benevolent Board of State Ex¬ 
aminers. A gentleman who was demented and detained in the 
insane asylum, was let out on parole, and while in the bold 
flights of an extravagant fancy he conceived the idea of taking 
out license and entering upon the practice of veterinary medi¬ 
cine and surgery. He went before this State Board of Veteri¬ 
nary Examiners, was vigorously protested by Dr. Martin and 
others, but he furnished the fee of twenty dollars and passed 
the board successfully. Now I would respectfully appeal to 
the profession at large, if this committee were not justified in 
its published criticism of the board’s official conduct and in 
asking for its removal from office ; and to the Doctor himself, 
let me say in all kindness that, although a non-graduate, I 
hold myself equal to meet with overwhelming facts anything 
further he may care to offer, and for the present will only add, 
“ Lay on, Macduff, and damned be he who first cries hold, 
enough ! ” S. H. Swain, V. S. 
