PROGNOSIS. 
203 
Much skill can be exercised in making provisos for the un¬ 
foreseen circumstances that may arise. If the lame horse does 
not strain himself over again, the sick one take fresh cold, the 
surgical case contract blood-poisoning or develop lock-jaw, we 
can hope for favorable results. u Look wise, but say little.” 
Grave looks, a shake of the head, upon taking the pulse or tem¬ 
perature, frequent visits, anxious inquiry when the attendant is 
seen before the patient, all tend to make it a serious case, assuage 
grief when terminating fatally and augmenting the rejoicing 
when the case recovers. 
I am talking particularly to the young men and can assure 
them that these little artifices are justifiable in self-protection 
under the difficult circumstances. 
The human practitioner’s powers of forecast are not so 
severely tested. He is not required to answer so definitely. 
Simply is it a serious case, giving him a chance to err upon the 
safe side. 
But the veterinarian is asked bluntly, can you pull him 
through ? which must be answered by a yes or no, or a hope¬ 
ful or doubtful. If no, or doubtful, your services are discredited 
and likely discarded at once. If an affirmative answer is fol¬ 
lowed by a negative result, you are branded a humbug. 
How is the practitioner to best prepare himself for this 
difficult part of his work ? A close study of the natural course 
of diseases, their period of duration, the weakness or idiosyn¬ 
crasy of the patient and the hygienic conditions under which he 
# must be treated, together with the history, the stage in which 
he finds him, the extent of pathological change, all of which 
coupled with great discretion will enable him to answer the un¬ 
avoidable questions in such way as to convince his patron that 
he understands his business. Not only this, but the knowledge 
just enumerated is essential to avoid being robbed of the fruits 
of your skill and care. Many funny things occur in practice. 
Dr. Brown has been treating a spavin for several weeks. The 
benefits are not apparent to the owner and he is dismissed and 
Jones employed. Anchylosis is abput being completed, Jones 
