4 DADD & VETERINARY SURGERY AND MEDICINE. 
ness .iany millions of dollars might be saved to the Government 
in a short time. I contend that the condemnation and ruinous 
sale of sick and lame horses is a wanton waste of property, and 
it would be just as rational, if rational at al’ to sacrifice, neglect 
or abandon sick or disabled soldiers simply ecause they are not 
in fit condition for present duty. 
Importance of Veterinary Education.—The importance cf edu- 
cating men for the scientific practice of Veterinary Medicine and 
Surgery is self-evident, and is further illustrated by the daily 
experience of those persons whom, as a matter of necessity, have 
been obliged to prescribe for the sick and dying of their flocka 
and herds, at the sume time, having no knowledge of those advant- 
ages which a thorough course of training affords, must necessarily 
feel that they are yroping in comparative darkness, and when a 
ray of medical light does flit across their path, it often serves to 
make them better acquainted with their own want of skill. Per- 
sons thus circumstanced, unable to procure the services of veteri- 
nary surgeons, in consequence of a scarcity of the “genuine 
material,” are often called upon to assume the responsibilities of 
medical practitioners; and they, no doubt, prescribe with geod 
intention and honesty of purpose, but disease and death have the 
vantage of them, for the disease 1s not often rightly diaguosed, 
nor are they acquainted with the means of securing a favorable 
issue ; and they will hail, as a great blessing, every attempt made 
for the purpose of diffusing a knowledge of Veterinary Science, 
We all know that there is greater need for scientific qualifica- 
tion on the part of those who propuse to practice on brutes than 
in tne case of a practitioner of human medicine; and if a special 
vourse of study and qualification, obtained under the guidance of 
xompetent teachers at college or elsewhere, be essentially neces- 
sary in the one case, surely they can not ve dispensed with in the 
ther. Now, it is well known that prior to the introduction of a 
rational system of veterinary medicine in the mother country, 
millions of domestic animals were annually sacrificed at the 
shrine of ignorance; but science came to the rescue, and now the 
disciples of St. Bet, CoLeMAN, their co-workers (the founders of 
the science in England), and kindred spirits, can, by aid of thetz 
vast materia medica—their anesthetic agents, their scalpel, apd 
other appliances—accomplish unheard of wonders. 
