EDITORIAL,. 
3 
in the fairness and candor of those to whom he must refer his 
graduation ; and we trust that a “ sober second thought” will 
show conclusively the error of the suspicion. 
Where, indeed, and what is the great impropriety of exacting 
the examination provided for in the bill ? Why should any prac¬ 
titioner object to it? Why should the constituents of our Assem¬ 
blymen and Senators so strenuously oppose it ? What is there in 
the idea of an examination—not the examination before one 
board, as suggested by the New York State Society bill—nor that 
asked for by the Rochester State Society ? Examination per se, 
that is the trouble. 
Again, what are the benefits to be expected from a bill that 
requires all practitioners, of any number of years standing, to 
register and practice, provided their status has continued for a 
definite term previous to the passage of the act. It is not to kill 
the quackery of the present time, but to prevent it in years 
to come. It is only within a few years past that veterinary 
schools have existed in this country. It is but recently that the 
veterinary schools of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania 
and other States, and of Canada, have been organized. Gentle¬ 
men desirous of entering the profession have now no longer any 
good reason for setting up in practice on their own casually 
acquired and amateur knowledge, with the excuse that there are 
no means of obtaining a thorough and sufficient education. The 
object we should all have in view ought therefore to be to secure 
recognition at once for all who can furnish evidence of having 
practiced for a number of years, and to prevent a new growth of 
self-made, self-taught and, therefore, half taught and untried lay 
practitioners. 
Let, then, all the clauses requiring an examination be can¬ 
celled ; let all who are now earning their living by the practice 
of veterinary medicine be authorized to register; let our repre¬ 
sentatives in Albany designate the length of time which shall be 
considered sufficient to entitle one to so register. But let us 
have a law which, if of no special advantage to the present gen 
eration, will protect the next; an act which shall not only secure 
that end, but provide the means by which all the various depart- 
