434 PROPOSED CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
The idea has too long prevailed that a veterinary surgeon 
should be little better than a roadside farrier, and that it is 
undesirable that he should read, write, study, have recourse 
to those auxiliaries in research which other sciences eagerly 
adopt, or be anything else than a “ practical man:” that is, 
one who leaves his profession as he finds it, and has but little 
besides the rule of thumb for his guide. This erroneous idea 
has been fatal, not only to the progress of veterinary science, 
but has worked incalculable harm to its reputation. Those 
who comprehend the wide range of subjects embraced by the 
science, and the deep study that many of them require in 
order to become even partially acquainted with them, will 
easily see what a pernicious influence this teaching has had, 
and how much it has done to degrade the position of veteri- 
nary medicine. It only needs a society like this, under the 
management of able men, to dispel such a baneful illusion, 
and to show that few sciences demand more careful, incessant, 
and well-directed study by highly cultivated minds. If we 
required any proof of this, or of the benefit to be derived 
from such an organization, I would with pleasure refer to the 
proceedings of the Societe Centrale de Medecxne Veterinaire of 
Paris. When we look at the methodical way in which its 
business is conducted, the highly scientific, thorough, and 
intellectual manner in which all subjects are discussed, the 
disinterested motives which induce its members to allot a 
large share of their valuable time to the investigation of 
matters brought before it, the long list of distinguished 
names entered on its list of members, whether titular, hono- 
rary, associates, or correspondents, we can be moved by no 
other feeling than that of admiration, and need not be 
astonished to find that the deliberations of this body have 
proved of great advantage to the French empire, and added 
immensely to the estimation in which veterinary medicine is 
held in that country. I can see no reason why the proposed 
society should not prove a generous rival to that in the 
French capital. It is sad to reflect that, though the horses, 
cattle, and sheep in this country are the finest and most 
valuable of any in the world, and though our colonial empire 
is so immense and almost exclusively agricultural, we are 
yet behind the smallest German state in veterinary matters. 
Much of this is doubtless due to the neglect of Government ; 
but it must be confessed a great deal more is owing to our 
own apathy, want of education, lack of scientific training, 
and narrow-mindedness. 
Great good, I am certain, can be effected by the Central 
Veterinary Medical Society. It should command the best 
