Acrimony on the List Serve and Job Dissatisfaction

[Guest guest]

As I watch my Collie and a Great Pyrenees romp without a care in the world in my

back yard on a sunny, crisp, peaceful Sunday morning, some thoughts:

1.) In the final analysis, the state boards decide what people can and can not

legally do for the public. Changes on that level are fraught with major

political risk as well as medico-legal and ethical implications. They should not

be taken lightly.

2.) Modern human physical therapy is a great contributor to the expansion of

knowledge for the veterinary practitioner. An historical perspective though: we

overlook that human PT's are in realty late comers to the party of veterinary

rehabilitation. The earliest indication of veterinary rehabilitation can be

traced to 4000 BC in China on horses. Scientific methods of horse training and

rehabilitation were recorded in western cultures as far back as the 11th

century. The oldest veterinary school in the Western world is Lyon which was

founded in 1761. The University of Bologna, the oldest University in the world,

founded their veterinary school in 1805. As horses were of inestimable value to

society back then, courses on training them and rehabilitation of their injuries

were an essential part of the curriculums of the veterinary doctor in training.

3.) There is an irony to the discussion on compensation. I see a litany of

letters and accomplishments after some of the names of the people that sign

their posts. I am sure these accomplishments represent a great deal of time,

education and money in order to achieve them. On the other hand, I am reading

that people are expecting $35 per hour in compensation for their service. The

mechanic at the Ford dealership I take my F150 to, with 2 years of trade school

after high school, earns $55 per hour with benefits. Is there something wrong

with that picture?

4.) I hope cooler heads eventually prevail. Otherwise the deterioration of these

discussions may lead to separation of the various professions to their

respective list serves and that would be a shame.

I think it's time to go outside and romp with the dogs.

ph