INHUMAN TREATMENT OF HORSES IN ENGLAND. 107 



knacker's yard ; but, according to the present system, nearly 

 all the operations are performed, by the assistant professor, 

 and the demonstrator and the pupils are permitted only to 

 look on. Some alteration is here imperiously required." 



Mr. Blane experienced in his own person the results of this 

 imperfect system of teaching. He was sent for to fire a 

 valuable horse, and gives the following account of it : " It 

 was my first essay in firing on my own account, and fired as 

 I was with my wishes to signalize myself, I labored to enter 

 my novitiate with all due honor. The farrier of the village 

 was ordered to attend, a sturdy old man, civil enough, but 

 looking as though impressed with no very high respect for a 

 gentleman farrier's knowledge. The horse was cast, (awk- 

 wardly enough,) and secured, as will appear, even more so. 

 I, however, proceeded to show the superiority of the new 

 over the old schools. I had just then left the veterinary col- 

 lege, not as a pupil, but as a teacher, [licensed to kill, 

 and no questions asked,] which I only mention to mark the 

 climax. On the very first application of the iron, up started 

 my patient, flinging me and my assistants in all directions 

 from him, while he trotted and snorted round the yard with 

 rope, &c, at his heels. As maybe supposed, I was taken 

 aback, and might have gone back as I came, had not the old 

 farrier, with much good humor, caught the horse round the 

 neck with his arms, and by some dexterous manoeuvre brought 

 him on his knees ; when, with a jerk, as quick as unexpected, 

 he threw him at once on his side, when our immediate assist- 

 ants fixed him, and we proceeded. It is needless to remark 

 that I retired mortified, and left the village farrier lord of 

 the ascendant." 



" It cannot be doubted that the best operators in this case 

 are always the common country farriers, who, from devoting 

 themselves entirely to the occupation, soon become pro- 

 ficients." * 



* This admission on the part of a regular graduate of a veterinary insti- 

 tution of London shows that the veterinary science, as taught at the present 



