Veterinary Medicine - October 2008 - (Page 574)

Mind Over Miller musings from Dr. Robert M. Miller We do what we have to do! D uring the energy crunch of the late ’70s, it was predicted that the planet had a 35-year supply of petroleum left. That was an underestimate, of course, but it did forecast the presRobert M. Miller, DVM, is an author and a cartoonist, speaker, and Veterinary Medicine Practitioner Advisory Board member from Thousand Oaks, Calif. His thoughts in “Mind Over Miller” are drawn from 32 years as a mixed-animal practitioner. Visit his Web site at www.robertmmiller.com. ent inadequate supply of petroleum, its high cost, and the frantic activity to ﬁnd alternative energy sources. Back then, one of our solutions to the shortage was to impose a nationwide 55-mph speed limit. I have already written about that obviously helpful mea- increasingly used, including wind power, geothermal sources, natural gas, coal, and so on. At least today’s crisis won’t be largely ignored, as was the shortage 30 years ago when, as soon as oil supplies increased, our answer was to drive SUVs and build bigger homes. Serious consideration is being given to converting existing gasoline-powered vehicles to natural gas, which has caused consternation in many people. Well, I have news for you. Whether you are a large-animal practitioner, for whom driving many During World War II, some German citizens drove woodgas–powered cars because of the petroleum shortage. miles is part of life, or a small-animal practitioner sure* and observed that in our present who must commute to a local practice speed-addicted society this idea has not each working day, we will do what we been considered by even the most vocal must do when no other choice exists. environmental groups. Toward the end of World War II, GerIn response to the current energy many experienced a critical fuel shortage. crisis, a variety of energy sources will be What little gasoline was available was reserved for military use. A wry commentary was often being quoted: *Editors’ note: Read Dr. Miller’s col“Was ist los mit die Luftwaffe?” [What umn, “I can drive 55” from the August is wrong with the air force?] 2007 issue at http://veterinarymedicine “Kein Benzin!” [No gasoline!] .dvm360.com/Miller55. Despite the war, many civilians needed to drive. The answer was holzgas (wood gas). A wood-ﬁred furnace was attached to the front of the automobile, and the energy produced by the ﬁre was converted and fed to the engine. It was smoky and inefﬁcient, and drivers had to periodically stop and stoke the ﬁre. But it worked! When the war ended, Germany was devastated—its cities and industry destroyed—so holzgas-powered cars continued to be seen on the highways for a few more years. Realizing this was a technological phenomenon that may never be seen again, I took a photograph of a Holzgaspowered car. Looking at it, converting to natural gas or batteries does not seem so imposing. Incidentally, in July of this year, I was on a veterinary tour of Switzerland. While I was there, gasoline went from $8.50 to $9 per gallon! Of course, Switzerland is not as dependent on driving as we are, but its freeways were still jammed, just as ours are. We do what we have to do! 574 October 2008 VETERINARY MEDICINE The views expressed in “Mind Over Miller” do not necessarily reﬂect those of the editorial and practitioner advisory boards or the editorial staff. http://www.robertmmiller.com http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/Miller55 http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/Miller55

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - October 2008

Veterinary Medicine - October 2008 Contents Leading Off Clinical Exposures Idea Exchange Stalking Stones Vaginitis in Dogs CE Form Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - October 2008

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