A NATIONAL VETERINARY SCHOOL. 419 



the eighteen-year-old graduates of this veterinary sprouting-house. 

 It seems to me that no other evidence is needed to show the fallacy 

 of State schools, for here we have one in optima forma, chartered, 

 funded, and controlled by the State. Suppose the thirty-seven 

 other States should all follow suit, each after its own fashion ! 

 Doubtless some would be found thinking one year's study would be 

 sufficient, others thinking two, while in some isolated cases ex- 

 tremely wise legislators might insist upon three ; but I am not yet 

 ready to believe that our people have got very far beyond the idea 

 that " anything is good enough for a horse-doctor." At least, the 

 experiences of daily life continually confirm me in that opinion. 



A NATIONAL VETERINARY SCHOOL. 



Foe advocating this idea, the president of the Iowa abortion de- 

 clares me to be "visionary," whereas I think about all there is in his 

 contemplated school is the result of a vision of something else than 

 the teachings of veterinary history. Another remarkable critique 

 declares me to be " lacking in a knowledge of public affairs " ; to 

 which, if he means American politics, I plead guilty, and trust I 

 may continue so. 



Some four years ago, I was myself a firm friend of State 

 schools ; finally, the evils of such a system became so conspicuous 

 that I thought sectional schools would be better ; but the earnest 

 study of all the peculiar relations of veterinary science to the public 

 wants finally convinced me that they could only be most profitably 

 adjusted by one school. My whole purpose in educating myself es- 

 pecially for this work has been to serve my country to the best de- 

 gree possible. What Continental governments do for the people, by 

 educating young men especially for the positions of teachers, and 

 sending them to study in foreign countries, I have done at my own 

 expense, not only of money, but almost of my life. Therefore I 

 feel I have a right to speak as one having authority. Naturally, I 

 expect opposition, but my opponents should have arguments instead 

 of mere words or accusations wherewith to show I am wrong. 

 There is no need of being in a hurry in this matter. " Haste will 

 make waste," as surely as the people of the different States go heed- 

 lessly forward, and endeavor to inaugurate veterinary schools upon 

 erroneous principles, such as those adopted at Harvard and Phila- 



