Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-04
PEOPLES PULPIT

1
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Editor Ottumwa Courier:-Allow me
q little space that may avenge an
insult that has been cast at the veter
mary profession, and that may &C
quaint the public with the true condi
ton OF Affairs.
In q late tissue OF the Courier, June
81, noticed that q new organization
had been formed by few old COW and
"hoss" doctors, and one Of them In
addressing the assembly attacked the
ability OF the graduate veterinarian
In the frst place let us see why such
| an organization was formed. In the
United States there are several veter-
mary associations, but only veterin-
srians can become members.
II those old-time doctors wish to
attend an association it is up to them
to organize. AS scientific subjects
and professional ethics are strangers
to them they must resort to something
else for q pastime, and am Of the
opinion that they fired the wrong
barrel when they attacked the veter1n-
arian. They call their cause progress
sive and progressive 1t is, for the old
time cow doctor is fast progressing In
to oblivion. So much for that. We
will now pass on to the subject for
discussion: Who makes the success
full veterinarian and who makes the
failure?
That subject needs ne comment for
there are only two sides to be dis
cussed, viz. the veterinarian and the
quack. Someone may ask what the
difference Is. Let me tell you. The
veterinarian il one who has attended
q recognized veterinary college or de-
partment Of an agricultural college,
completed the course after serving the
full time required, passed satisfac-
tory examination on all subjects ap-
pertaining to veterinary science, and
has been awarded diploma from the
college as stamp Of its approval.
Then he must 90 before the state vet
Urinary examining board and pass
satisfactory examination in all the Diff
ferent subjects. Then he receives
permit to practice veterinary medicine,
surgery and dentistry and Is consider.
ed a veterinarian. The quack, on the
other hand, Is one who by chance has
read an advertisement for some spav-
in cure, or cure-all stock food paper;
has gone forth and equipped himself
with a few bottles and backing boxes;
has sign printed in box car letters
and q handsome horse with flowing
name and tail; proclaiming to the
public that he Is veterinarian and
can cure all diseases that mans hum
ble servant is heir to, and that he can
remove all lunches, stop all lameness
without blot, blemish or pain to the
animal and wind up by saying medi
cine can be sent to any part Of the
country Medicine, his cherished
remedies that have worked wonders,
but he can't tell how-but in some
way, shape, or manner an occasional
case pulls through. When 1t does, his
gothic features may De seen in the
midst Of small assembly, telling
them just how it was, and then his
favorite expression, II told you 80, I
guess l know more about HOSES than
them fellers what went to college,"
Taking up another statement made
by the speaker, Some Of these fellows
from veterinary college hardly know
the difference between a jackass and
cow" I believe can tell a cow
animal the minute saw his picture
in the paper. He says, They come
home full-nedged veterinarians" Well,
if they 90 to school and serve their
time and pass up all the examinations
and attend strictly to business they
will know something about veterinary
medicine, but of course not as much
as the old long-necked-bottle-a
blackin-box-pseudo veterinarian. An
other statement was, Just because
pap had money" That statement
casts discredit and false Impressions
upon the veterinary schools, SO we will
merely acquaint them Of the state
ment and they are able to defend them
selves. for, one, and every other
veterinarian should not hesitate to
protect our honored profession and our
alma mater from the onslaughts OF q
maddened empirical association.
And again he says They come home
all swelled up and tell US gray-headed
fellows that we have no business to
be practicing veterinary medicine"
In the first place, / pity the poor fool
who gets all swelled up just because
he has been to college, and In the sec
ond place, gray hair does not denote
an excess OF gray matter in the cram
ium. When he said they had no bust
ness to be practicing veterinary medi-
cine. he must have been rather
thoughtless, for you are not practicing
veterinary medicine, you are merely
initiating and butchering the profes-
sion.
They have followed their cherished
vocation so long that they really be-
lieve that they are veterinarians, but
the public is fast learning the differ
ence between graduate veterinarian
ard the empirical Again he says that
most Of the mistakes are made by
those who think they know but don't.
On this point we agree, for the one
who thinks he knows and don't know
is the one who has never availed him.
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