The Portland daily press., 1899-02-22

the board OF registration. The bill es.
tablishes q penalty Of fine or imprison-
msnt in cases where veterinary surgery
Is practiced by unregistered persons. but
IL makes an exception In cases where the
services OF veterinary surgeons can.
not be obtained. Mr. Seiders spoke OF
the need Of training men that animals
may be properly cared for, and referred
to the stringent measures 1t had been
necessary to take to guard against the
introduction of diseased cattle into
Maine. MIR. Seiders endorsed a remark
by Chairman Stearns that the main
purpose OF the bill was to raise the busi-
ness from the plane of a trade to that of
o profession. Judge Smith asked If there
was any demand for such law except
on the part Of the veterinary surgeons
themselves Mr.. Soldiers said that the
veterinarians informed him that their
customers, especially farmers, ask for
protection against a GLASS Of men who
came into the state at the season OF the
country fairs and advertise themselves as
veterinarians There was doubt In the
minds Of the COMMITTEES as to the effect
of the bill upon physicians who are some
times called upon to treat valuable ami
mails. Mr.. Soldiers said that 1t was not
the purpose OF the bin to work hardship
in such cases and II 1t did, the measure
should be changed. There are $50 or 800
veteranians In Maine
| Judge Smith-RelI, doesn't this bill
put the care of all tho animals in Maine
into the hands Of these $50 or 800 menY
| Mr.. Soldiers replied that there would
soon be q larger number If the bill
passed and beside that there were many
men In addition to the 800 who would
come In under the provision of the law
relating to those who have practiced for
three years.
DIR. West OF Biddsf ford was the first
witness. lie told the committee how
euro-pneumonia and hog cholera have
teen nearly stamped out through the
efforts of the educated veterinarians.
Speaking Of the necessity for the law,
Dr. West said The veterinarian must
be an educated man to do his work
i
Smiths COW and finds her suffering. He
has nothing but his own observation to
guide him. He cannot ask the COW how
she feels, and what she has eaten, and
then tell her she has neurasthenia and
collect u fee of $500 or 500. Dr. West
told .he committee of the celebrated
Portland case where so-called veteri-
1 roa It,,t, inn N hnrcaf q
ear because he thought there was "a pas
sage from the ear to the stomach and
thus the liniment would reach the seat
of the collie from which the animal
was suffering.
Mr.. Manley-And that was In Port
land. tLaughter.)
DIR. Huntington of Portland and DR..
Sulley of Skowhegnn, also spoke briefly.
Secretary MoKeen of the Board of Agri-
culture, was the next speaker. Mr.. Nc
Keen spoke particularly of the section
which forbade the rendering of services
for money by persons not registered. This
was the section which had lead TO much
of the discussion mentioned above. Ar.
McKeen said that the operation OF dehorn
ing Cattle was one WnlCn Hhuy COulu
do AS satisfactorily as the veterinarians.
Judge Stearns-Does TIE board oi
agriculture favor dehorning cattle?
MIR. Mokeen-I do not know that l can
speak of the sentiment Of the board, but
/ myself favor IL in certain cases. havt
not doubt that the story told of the do
ings of the quaok in Portland is true, bu
l also think that the gentlemen who ad
vocate this bill have made mistakes more
far reaching and have done serious Injury
to the interests OF this state.
Later, MIR. McKeen in answer to quss-
tions by Mr.. Seiders. said that he dit not
mean anything personal to the gentlemen
present when he spoke OF the mistakei
made. MIR. Mckeem did not believe the
farmers wanted such bill. Senator Pike
took the same view of the matter us die
Mr. Mckeen.
The hearing was then closed.
WAR CLAIMS AND NAVAL RE
SERVES.
The committee on military affairs toda,
heard the claims of various towns an(
cities which want to be reimbursed TO
the money they spent in caring fo
soldiers families in the late war. A'ort