132 . 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
The bill, so unmercifully scored, has been officially endorsed 
by The Chicago Veterinary Society, The Illinois Veterinary 
Medical Association and-The Illinois Veterinary Medical and 
Surgical Association. It was thoroughly digested and consid¬ 
ered, and while all agree that a more stringent measure would 
be of greater benefit to the graduate veterinarians of the State, 
it was also conceded that no other measure could pass an Illinois 
legislature at present. The various sections were discussed and 
fairly considered, and Sec. 4, which seems to irritate the Review 
editor so badly, was not overlooked. To say that this measure 
is u audacious,” and that Sec. 4 or any other section will be used 
as a means of admitting everybody or anybody in the veterinary 
profession who u has the price of the fees,” is certainly a very 
violent supposition on the part of the Review editor. Imagine, 
if yon can, three veterinary examiners, three live stock commis¬ 
sioners and their secretary, “putting their heads together” for 
the dishonorable purpose of admitting persons into the veteri¬ 
nary ranks who are unqualified, in order to secure a small fee. 
Such an assertion is really cruel and unjust. Let us hope the 
worthy editor was only jesting. 
Sec. 4 does provide for an examination of any one who 
wishes to apply for the same precisely as our medical laws pro¬ 
vide. Yet during twenty years under this law it has never 
been abused nor has any person been admitted to practice of 
medicine who is not worthy of the honor. In including this 
section we have acted on the supposition that the veterinarians 
of Illinois are as honest as their medical brothers, and will see 
to it that only qualified men enter the practice in the future. 
Are we not justified in placing our confidence in three veteri¬ 
nary examiners, or are we to act on the supposition that all men 
are dishonest? 
The Illinois veterinary bill is evidently misunderstood by 
the Review editor. The object of the bill is to place the 
veterinarians under control of the Board of Live Stock Com¬ 
missioners precisely as the medical practitioners are under the 
jurisdiction of the State Board of Health. 
Now, if our Board of Examiners, the State Board of Live 
Stock Commissioners and their secretary (seven in all) are dis¬ 
honest, dishonorable, mercenary shysters, then the Illinois law 
is indeed a bad one, and the Review’s deductions are logical. 
But, on the other hand, if a majority of them are even fairly 
honest, the veterinarians of Illinois may justly congratulate 
themselves on having the best law yet passed by any State, in- 
