VETERINARY LEGISLATION. 
33 
To Hon. C/ias. S. Baker: 
I send you this pamphlet, containing two bills in regard to 
regulating the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery in this 
State. The first of which was introduced to the Legislature some 
days ago, by Mr. Earl. This bill originated in the New York 
State Veterinary Society, and is in some respects, the product of 
a compromise between former warring veterinary factions. 
The veterinarians belonging to the State society seem to have 
two chief objects in view. The first is to exterminate old prac¬ 
titioners, even those who have practised ten years or more ; unless 
they can pass an examination by a Board of Censors, to be 
appointed by two certain societies. 
This bill does not guarantee that an impartial practical ex¬ 
amination will be given, as it does not require that a record of 
the questions and answers shall be kept; so that if any unfair¬ 
ness is practised in reference to granting certificates, it cannot be 
known to any but the Examining Board, and the persons examin¬ 
ed. No court can in any such case, take cognizance of such 
injustice, as there will be no record to go by. Their decisions in 
regard to granting certificates of qualification or withholding 
them, will be final, though they may be arbitrary and unjust. 
The New York city societies seem to think that all authority 
and control over the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery, 
should be placed by law in their hands to be wielded by them as 
they may see fit. 
They seem perfectly oblivious‘of the fact that in the rural 
districts throughout the State scarcely a single veterinarian who 
is a graduate of some college can be found. They do not even 
seem aware of the fact that the veterinary profession is still in its 
infancy, and that it has not as yet taken possession of fields over 
which it proposes to obtain complete control. What are the 
owners of domestic animals in the rural district to do, when they 
have one sick or in distress, if you deprive them of their un¬ 
graduated practitioners ? 
If graduated practitioners were already in possession of the 
fields of practice throughout the rural district of the State, as 
well as in cities, they might with some show of reason claim that 
