LONDON PROFESSORS AND EDINBURGH GRADUATES. 375 
to practise the veterinary art, I am told by Professor Spooner 
that I am an “illegimate practitioner,” and as “external to 
the corporate body as the man who had been educated in a 
stable.” As for the latter dreadful exigency, it is a matter 
of no small gratification to me that I never had anything to 
do with the corporate body, and I trust that I shall ever 
remain as external . to that matchless mystery as I am at 
present. But as for being an “ illegitimate practitioner,” I 
leave every candid mind to judge. 
Believe me, Sir, I should not have noticed Professor 
Spooner’s remarks, — for I am sorry to say similar ones are 
no new feature in the pages of the ‘ Veterinarian, 5 — 
had not your articles on a similar subject attracted my 
attention. I have been frequently amused at the vindictive 
feeling displayed by many veterinary surgeons when a 
graduate of the Edinburgh College has endeavoured to enter 
the army or the East India Company’s service ; yet, Sir, you 
will remember that not long since all this opposition was 
futile — both services were entered; and I have been told, 
with what correctness I am not prepared to say, that on one 
occasion the diploma of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons was, after some treating, ultimately offered without 
price, but respectfully declined. 
I see no reason why an Edinburgh graduate should be 
desired to pass an examination before a London board, seeing 
that we have, without that, the same privileges and the oppor- 
tunity of receiving as good, if not superior, education. I 
conceive it a vain thing to imagine that a charter or a 
diploma will insure a man’s respectability and success in his 
profession. By his own conduct, perseverance, and attention 
must he ultimately stand or fall. No body, corporate or 
otherwise, has any right to say to the public. You must 
employ this man because we have examined him, and you 
must not employ that man because we have not examined 
him. It is humiliating to think that the educated veterinarian 
should deem it necessary to shelter himself under the strong 
arm of the law for protection against the aggressions of the 
“ illegitimate practitioner ;” whether he “ be educated in the 
stable” or at the Edinburgh Veterinary College. 
Afraid that I have trespassed too much upon your space, 
and assuring you, Sir, that my remarks are offered with the 
greatest good will, — for I believe Edinburgh graduates may 
afford a smile at those painful ebullitions of temper, which 
serve no useful purpose, but only betray signs of irritation 
and weakness detrimental to the prosperity and united action 
of the profession at large, — and hoping that the legitimates 
