10 
F. 8. BILLINGS. 
from eontagio-infeetious causes; it is only when we demonstrate 
our ability to become valuable and faithful guardians of the public 
health, more valuable in many respects than the M.D., that we 
can look for public advancement as a profession. The lazy men 
of the profession, those whose ideas never ascend above a dollar, 
may be satisfied with the present condition. We have too many 
of them; they do nothing themselves, and condemn all endeavors 
on the part of others’ professional advancement, as the boiling 
over of youths, mere enthusiasts, who, in their august opinion, 
are everything but practical. Thankfully, while a comatose body, 
the profession is not all dead. There is some live wood among 
all this dead punk. 
It is well known that there is a just need of reliable statistics, 
with reference to the prevalence of contagious diseases among the 
animals of this country, as well as of the causes which exist in 
them dangerous to the public health. We wish personally to 
advance these questions, and hereby appeal to all our colleagues, 
regular and irregular, to all men who have an interest in the well¬ 
being of our profession, to take note of these things, and report 
to us every case which comes to their knowledge, it matters not 
of what kind, whether rabies, glanders or pleuro-pneumonia. 
Especially do we desire to gain some knowledge about tuberculo¬ 
sis among our cattle, and trichina among our swine. In this re¬ 
gard we would beg our colleagues to revise their dairies and 
farms, and report us where tuberculosis is found, and the number 
of cattle on such farms or in such dairies. Causes leading to the 
extension of the disease, such as hereditary influences, the breath 
ing of infected air from adjoining cattle having the disease, is an 
open question of no secondary value both to the profession and 
to cattle growers. We do not know that an authentic case of 
anthrax has ever been recorded in this country; but if colleagues 
would kindly send to us the blood, sun-dried upon glass slides, 
of any suspicious cases, we would be much obliged. 
As to trichinosis among our swine, we should like the stumps 
of pillars of diaphragm from the largest number of hogs possible, 
from all parts of the country during the coming year. They can 
be packed in 5% solution of carbolic acid, in preserve jars, and 
