34 THE VETERINARY PROFESSION 



hints from those who have been most successful 

 in the veterinary profession. Whoever desires 

 to follow in their footsteps must be cautioned 

 against dealing in horses, unless they make a 

 speciality of buying and selling animals that are 

 undeniably sound. 



As a rule, private purchasers do not look 

 for hunters in a vet's stableyard. Because, to 

 put it bluntly, a dealer who has "qualified" is 

 supposed to know more than is good for him. 

 There is always a likelihood of a purchaser, who 

 becomes dissatisfied with a horse that he has 

 purchased from a vet, afterwards injuring the 

 character of the seller. 



Of course there are plenty of pitfalls which a 

 qualified man must try to escape. Insobriety is 

 fatal to any practice. Bad horsemanship is apt 

 to brine down ridicule, for owners and orJ"oonis 

 quickly detect anything that indicates inexperi- 

 ence. For instance, if a vet, when giving 

 a horse a " ball," injures his patient's tongue 

 by pulling it too severely, or else gets his hand 

 bitten, some one is sure to notice it — and after- 

 wards to discuss the little mishap. Supposing 

 he is often clumsy, his employers will eventually 

 lose all confidence in him, and consequently 

 employ some one else. Neatness in the surgery 

 is strongly to be recommended : unfailing tact 

 and also an agreeable professional manner are 

 gifts ; but they can sometimes be acquired by 

 constant care. 



A few examination papers of the " Matric." for 

 the Royal Veterinary College are given below, in 



