QUACKERY IN THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
383 
aloes, oil of spike,” and such like, to some one of these pre- 
tenders ; and although he is generally one of the lowest of his 
class, he can use his tongue with a view to keeping his own 
pot boiling as well as his patron. 
The proclivities of horse-dealers are too well known to re- 
quire any notice here. We ought not, however, to forget 
the man of “ iron rings,” who, according to his own account, 
could tell you more for a glass of brandy than you would 
learn at college in six months. 
But more potent than all these are — 1st. The lamentable 
ignorance which characterises too many of the owners of 
animals concerning the first principles of pathology and 
medicine, thus rendering them an easy prey to every spe- 
cious pretender. This can only be remedied by their giving 
some attention at least to these and kindred subjects. 
2ndly. I would remark, save us from our friends. There 
is a certain class of gentlemen, officers in the army and 
others, whom we have great pleasure to see taking an inte- 
rest in the science, but, unfortunately, they seem to be un- 
able to raise their views beyond the good old times when the 
art was considered a mere adjunct of horsemanship, and con- 
nected with a series of gymnastics closely allied to what we 
have heard described as “ ground and lofty tumbling,” and 
seem to think that the most important part of practical vete- 
rinary surgery consists in agile movements around the animal, 
in picturesque attitudes, and in heroic manipulations. 
Now, while we admit that the science must stand on its 
merits, or fall through its demerits, we, in common with 
every British subject, have a right to fair play or a right to 
grumble. And here is the rub. The quack is not indebted 
to the examination of the animal for his diagnosis, he is the 
child of inspiration entirely. He merely goes about the 
horse for semi-effect, and unless the seat of disease be very 
obvious, it is a mere matter of choice. He will probably say 
the animal has got the boats . If he be from the “ green 
isle,” it will be the baits, and should you inquire any further 
as to how these monsters got there, or what was the nature 
of them, the only answer vouchsafed would be a look, in 
which a physiognomist would be puzzled to tell whether pity 
or contempt predominated. 
A veterinary surgeon must be a little more cautious in his 
pronunciamentoes , and must take proper steps to secure accu- 
racy, no matter how ungraceful the position may be which 
he has to assume to gain it. 
Did Principal Williams, of the Edinburgh Veterinary 
College, obtain his acumen as a nosologist and success as a 
