San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-02
THE VETERINARIAN.
A COMPLAINT AGAINST QUACkS IN
THE PROFESSION.

The "Horse Doctor" of Twenty five Years
Ago-SkiIIfuI Practitioners of New York
City-Their Yearly Incomes-veterinary
ColIeges-Horse Hospitals.
While land was cheap and is cheap people
were accustomed, and are now in fact, to re-
gard the death of stock as a matter of little
consequence There was then, say twenty
five years ago, from which time the profession
dates its substantial progress, little demand
in this country for well educated veterina-
rians. He was then, perhaps he is now in a
good many places. the "horse DOCTOR" or
worse still, the "cow Doctor big fellow
with a rough voice and shaggy overcoat,
who smelled of his patients, spit tobacco
Juice and ''cussed" like herd driver. Twen-
ty-five years ago in this city there were, ac-
cording to DR.. Alexander F. Liautard, the
dean Of the American Veterinary college in
West Fifty-forrth street, only three well
educated veterinary surgeons Now there
are between fifty and sixty skillful practi-
TONERS here whose names appear in the bust
ness directory. But the names in the direct
DRY do not give an idea of the real number
Of men practicing here. And quacks still
flourish, not alone In this city, but all over
the country.
1t does not pay skillful veterinarian to
follow his profession in a'country town, and
hundreds of towns, villages and hamlets
throughout the land rejoice in their "horse
and COW doctors" Many of them are men
of good common sense and can pull their
patients through, but the large cities, where
stock is valuable, can't exactly be proud Of
veterinarians Of class that humanitarians
protest against An animal cannot tell its
troubles, cannot sue for damages: but if it
could, would it not resent the offices of a
doctor who can scarcely write his own
name2 Yet, on good authority, it may be
said that there are such men in the profes-
sion. It is said that out of 5000 or 5000
veterinary surgeons in the country only 1000
are educated.
THE ,oD1uh OF QUACKs.
The profession has long had to bear the
odium Of quaclis with much cost TO itself
Two wears ago the societies showed the legiS-
aturo the necessity of passing an act for
regulating the practice Of veterinary surgery.
1t was provided that all veterinarians who
had practiced three years prior to the pas
sage of the act should be allowed to continue
in practice on filing with the county clerk a
certificate to that effect.
Professor Law employs from fourteen to
sixteen surgeons in the services Of the bureau
of which he is the head. The lowest salary
he pays is 81, 200 a year, and that to a recent
graduate; while one of his most capable
assistants gets $40 day and expenses Look
at my 'Rogues Gallery" said well known
veterinary surgeon the other day, pointing
- Sc h. dat - l., oNl
lesye. "All of those go fellows, except half
dozen, are doing well, making from 81, 400
to s, 900 year" Professor Liautard is an
enthusiasts in Che future Of his profession.
"fn ten years." said be, with a shrug OF his
shoulders, "the American veterinarian will
eclipse tho WORLDLY Why should not the pro-
feSsor be right He came here twenty-five
years ago from Franco Then, in this city,
there were only three properly educated
veterinarians, and now there are between
fifty and sixty. There are now two colleges,
several we'll equippedshospitak, Veterinary
societies and veterinary journalism firmly
established. Besides that, the profession is
respected by the medical fraternity. One Of
the colleges here is sadly overcrowded, and
has sent out an appeal for building fund
The hospitals are. always full and are obliged
to turn away patients at times, The value
of stock has greatly increaseds The domestic
animals Of the United States now repre-
cent an aggregate wealth of upward of
s., SOC, 100000
There are about six veterinary colleges in
this country, and. four Of them, like most
American institutions, owe their success to
their own efforts. The European colleges are
subsidized by their governments Yet France
is said to baye. only three. colleges. Germany