108 
THE PARISIAN CONGRESS. 
stock, no doubt but they would be listened to and. obeyed. They 
might, thus, become the benefactors of the locality in which they 
resided. If this beneficial influence were exercised, not in one 
spot only, but throughout the kingdom, with harmony and union, 
under the superintendence of a superior authority, a new era would 
be opened to agriculture. 
“ At present,” continues the Report, “ veterinary practitioners, 
as a body, are far from being able to render such services to their 
country, although all, no doubt, are anxious to do so. But in order 
to fulfil efficaciously the important functions of agents and pro- 
moters of agricultural ameliorations, they must be prepared by an 
appropriate education, which the existing schools are inadequate 
to give. The means of instruction presented by the three veteri- 
nary schools of Alfort, Lyons, and Toulouse, are so limited as to 
be nugatory in this respect. These establishments require com- 
pletely remodelling. A sufficiently large extent of land should be 
added to them to admit of the rearing of cattle, and of illustrating 
the various improvements introduced into agriculture. They should, 
therefore, contain a model farm, a stud of horses, flocks of sheep and 
of other cattle. The duration of the studies should be at least five 
years. The pupils should follow theoretical and practical courses 
of agriculture and of rural economy ; and particularly courses 
treating of the hygiene and rearing of animals. The grade of Ba- 
chelor of Letters should be demanded of all pupils, and they should 
cease to be examined on horse -shoeing*! 
“ Thus formed by five years of practical and theoretical studies, 
those who obtained the diploma of veterinary practitioners ought 
to be protected by public authority from the quacks who now prey 
on the rural population, and the exercise of the veterinary art 
ought to be exclusively intrusted to them. In the army they 
should be placed on a footing of equality with the military sur- 
geons, with whom their knowledge would entitle them to rank. 
Their special information might be rendered useful to the country 
in various ways. Thus, in the chief town of each district, there 
might be a veterinary surgeon appointed to examine into any epi- 
zootic that might appear, and to consult with the civil authorities. 
It is also to veterinary surgeons exclusively that should be in- 
trusted the inspection of markets ; and one or more should form a 
part of every local council of health or salubrity. 
“ Measures should likewise be taken to forward the progress of a 
science which has such influence over the health, riches, and power 
of the nation. Intelligent veterinary practitioners should be sent, 
occasionally, into foreign countries, to study the state of veterinary 
* Why so? Because (all-important as this branch of knowledge is) it is 
derogatory to “ a Bachelor of Letters.” — E. V. 
