454 
THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
“ The disease, also, being of an insidious nature, and highly 
complicated in the symptoms which it presents, it often runs its 
rapid course before the farmer is aware of its existence ; and it 
should, therefore, be impressed upon the owners of stock, that their 
only safety consists in obtaining, as promptly as possible, the pro- 
fessional assistance of a properly licensed practitioner.” 
The spirit shewn by the directors of the Highland and Agricul- 
tural Society in bringing this matter so promptly before the Board 
of Trade cannot be too highly appreciated; and it would have been 
well had it been met in the same manner by the Lords of the Privy 
Council. Custom-house officers may be very expert in the de- 
tection of exciseable goods being concealed and attempted to be 
smuggled into the country on the persons of individuals arriving 
from the continent ; but we doubt much if they have the most dis- 
tant conception of a healthy or an unhealthy animal. Until, there- 
fore, a properly-qualified quarantine officer is appointed, with the 
requisite powers, at such ports as cattle from an infected district 
are imported, the country must, as it has been, be still submitted to 
the influence of imported contagion. M. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian” 
24, Brown Square, Edinburgh, 
July 15th, 1845. 
Sir, — The Report of the Council of the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons, published in your last number, contains a 
statement in reference to the Veterinary College, Edinburgh, so sin- 
gularly unjust and inaccurate, that I trust you will allow me space 
enough to point out its unfairness. At page 386, reference is made 
to the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland “ giving a silver 
medal to the pupil who shall pass the best examination in che- 
mistry, and this too , be it remembered, in the face of a protest 
from the Professor of the school they patronize and protect against 
such a subject being taught in his class” 
I have marked with italics the passage I wish to comment upon. 
As I was the party by whom the pupils of the Edinburgh Vete- 
rinary College were instructed in chemistry, and as I am likewise 
a member of the Highland Agricultural Society, I am in the best 
condition to say whether it was at the instance of that society, or 
of Professor Dick, that the veterinary pupils were taught che- 
mistry ; and I beg to state, emphatically, that it is to Mr. Dick, and 
to him alone, that the merit of adding that branch of science to 
