316 VETERINARY MEDICINE IN AUSTRALIA. 
still to a great extent does, but in a very different degree. 
Where has he not been found? There is, however, this 
distinction to be drawn, — in the earlier history of this country 
his acts were almost totally unopposed, a freedom seldom if 
ever enjoyed by the empiric in the mother country ; but this 
state of things is fast declining. The legitimate veterinary sur- 
geon has arrived, who has taken his place, and is beginning to 
be appreciated, so that the other is gradually sinking into 
obscurity. This change is not a sudden one. It is not 
because the man of science has arrived that he is appreciated, 
but because he has been tried, that he is so. We all know 
how reluctant men are to leave a beaten track and adopt a 
change ; therefore our position has been one of protraction, 
but in the end it will be one of success. We by no means 
wish to convey the idea that there are no believers in the old 
system ; we merely contend against its present universality. 
Nor do we pretend to say that they are men whom we care 
not to comment on, since many of them are men of standing 
and intelligence ; and such frequently remind us of the 
great success of their favorite quackery. We account for 
this in the same way as Paley did the Parisian Miracles, 
“ the few successful ones are recorded, the many unsuccessful 
ones suppressed.” Besides, when men have much to gain 
and nothing to lose, they are very daring. Still, on the whole, 
we must congratulate ourselves that their influence is passing 
away, and that the light of science is dispelling the dark 
clouds of ignorance that once almost appeared impenetrable. 
Furthermore, it is much to be regretted that many persons 
appear to live in ignorance of existing institutions ; such, for 
instance, as the Veterinary College. Again, some — and they 
are not a few — seem to recognise no difference between the 
terms veterinary surgeon, farrier, cow leech, et hoc genus omne, 
and use them interchangeably, as meaning one and the 
same ; and are astonished -when told that the veterinary pro- 
fession is a chartered body, and enjoys privileges, cceteris 
paribus , with the other professions. From these facts, it be- 
hoves us to spare no individual exertion so as to raise the 
profession in public estimation ; not by telling others what 
we are and what we are entitled to, but by our acts, thus en- 
deavouring to prove that we are what we profess to be. These 
feelings, I am apt to think, influence us in a greater degree 
here than at home ; to wit, that we are more jealous of our 
respectability abroad, where we are comparatively little known, 
than we should be at home, where we are better known ; and 
therefore it is that I feel deeply when I see any one of our 
profession, forgetting that he is a man of science, and entitled 
