126 



but from want of education in the art, in the words of the old 

 dialogue, " arc not fit to shoe a goat ;" and the gait of horses 

 is injnred, or they arc made to stumble or rendered incurably 

 lame by bad shoeing. 



In the art of veterinary medicine we have scarcely a scien- 

 tific practitioner. There are, in almost every town, some one 

 or more persons who pass under the title of horse-doctors or 

 cow-doctors ; but most of them have not even a smattering of 

 the knowledge of comparative anatomy, and their practice of 

 cattle medicine is the grossest of all quackery. Some cases of 

 their prescriptions and practice have filled me with indignation 

 for their cruelty towards the poor dumb animals, who cannot 

 tell their sufferings. In Europe, the governments have estab- 

 lished and support veterinary schools, on the most liberal scale ; 

 and it would be a most suitable object of encouragement with 

 the government of the Commonwealth, if such an establish- 

 ment could be got up on a proper foundation in the neighbor- 

 hood of a large city, where a variety of cases might be present- 

 ed for study. I do not know why even an educated man should 

 disdain the profession, for any otfices to which it might lead 

 would not be more disgusting than many which human medi- 

 cine often imposes upon a devoted physician and surgeon. It 

 cannot be doubted that the intelligent and skilful practice of 

 the veterinary art would, in many parts of the country, be a 

 source of ample income ; and, if humanity and the desire to 

 alleviate suffering in every form, to say nothing of the saving 

 of property in the case, can make a profession respectable, 

 this would be a profession in the highest measure humane and 

 merciful. The profession should embrace, as far as practicable, 

 a thorough knowledge of the construction, constitution, habits 

 and diseases of all domestic animals ; and the services should 

 be well paid. Who shall speak for the dumb, unless they, 

 who can speak, speak for them? And who will deny the debt 

 of kindness which we owe to animals, whom God has cast 

 upon onr care, and whom we compel to labor continually and 

 to the utmost of their strength for orr service and pleasure ? 



