The Complete Crazier. 
415 
of England. To Professor James B. Simonds, his intimate acquaint- 
ance, I am indebted for many of the following particulars of his life. 
William Youatt, a native of Devonshire, was born in 1777. He 
received a liberal education, and was intended, it is presumed, to 
undertake the duties of a Nonconformist minister. When about 35 
years of age, he entered into partnership with Mr. Delabere Blaine, 
who had established, at the beginning of the century, an infirmary 
for horses and dogs, with a depot for the sale of veterinary 
medicines, in Nassau Street, Middlesex Hospital, London. 
It cannot be doubted that long prior to taking this step he had 
given the subject of the diseases of animals deep thought, and with 
a mind constituted as his was he could not abstain from taking 
active measures for the alleviation of their sufferings. In his capa- 
city as a partner of Blaine, Youatt threw all his energy, perseverance 
and talent into the profession he had now adopted, and in which he 
ultimately obtained so great a celebrity. How long this partnership 
was maintained is not known, but probably down to 1826. After 
this for many a year Youatt resided on the premises, the infirmary 
being kept up, chiefly for the reception of dogs. 
The year 1828 must be regarded as memorable in the history of 
veterinary medicine. Long prior to this date loud complaints had 
come from the principal members of the profession of the little pro- 
gress which was made by those in authority at the College. The 
teaching was too much restricted to one animal, the horse ; chem- 
istry and Materia medica received scarcely any notice ; the educa- 
tional acquirements of students were never inquired into, and their 
attendance on the instruction was far too short. To these defects 
may be added that the examination of students was conducted by 
physicians and surgeons — doubtless most distinguished — with the 
practical assistance only of the professor and assistant-professor. 
To remedy this state of things meetings of the profession were 
being held from time to time, and resolutions passed setting forth 
the reforms which were imperatively needed. Two periodicals also 
saw the light, the Veterinarian and the Farrier and Naturalist. 
The former was conducted by Youatt, who was soon joined by 
Wm. Percival, Y.S. of the First Life Guards ; the latter by Bracy 
Clarke, a distinguished author, and F. C. Cherry, also an Army 
veterinary surgeon. Both had the same object in view, the much- 
needed accomplishment of substantial reform. The Farrier and 
Naturalist, however, only survived three years, but, as is well known, 
the Veterinarian still lives on. 
In 1830, Youatt entered into an arrangement to write the Far- 
mers’ Series for the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. 
This Society, during the several years it was in existence, did enor- 
mous good by its publications to the agricultural world. It had a very 
large committee, of which Lord Brougham and Lord John Russell 
were respectively chairman and vice-chairman, and local committees 
in most of the counties of England and Wales, as well as at Calcutta 
and Canton. One of its last publications was the Fenny Encyclo- 
pedia, but becoming short of funds it became extinct. Mr. Youatt’s 
