178 THE FRENCH ARMY VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
fear being contradicted by any one ; that the same lectures 
which are delivered at the faculty of medicine are taught at 
the present time in our veterinary schools. 1 assert, that the 
examinations for the granting of diplomas are quite as severe; 
and, how could it be otherwise? Medicine! Is it not one in 
its principles and rules? It is only in the different animals 
on which we practise that any difference occurs. I will 
ask every honest man where is the difference, in a scientific 
point of view, between the human and the veterinary surgeon ? 
Is it in the difficulties of the practice? Is it not necessary to 
have an equal capacity to apply usefully the theorical knowledge 
of medicine to the treatment of man and of the quadruped? It 
is evident, to every unprejudiced person, that all well informed 
veterinary surgeons have a scientific value almost or quite equal 
to that of the human surgeon. It is plain that their profession, 
which was formerly practised by farriers, as that of surgeons 
was once conducted by barbers, constitutes at the present time a 
very different thing. The Honourable M. Bertin de Vause, the 
sole orator who opposed the project of Government at the 
Chamber of Deputies, did not hesitate to acknowledge this him- 
self from the tribunal. 
Our art has not remained and will not remain stationary. 
The veterinary surgeon, as his skill became developed and he 
became better known, has gained progressively in the consider- 
ation, confidence, and esteem of his fellow citizens. For a very 
considerable period they have had access to the learned societies 
found in every department. Many among them occupy distin- 
guished places in the agricultural societies, and in agricultural 
meetings, and many of them are continuing to receive and to 
exercise certain honourable missions with reference to agriculture, 
and commerce, and the arts, in every department throughout the 
kingdom. Often, likewise, they are summoned to the bench to 
arbitrate respecting various questions relating to their art, and, 
generally, the magistrates have had to congratulate themselves 
on the assistance they have received. 
Such facts bear sufficient testimony to the consideration in 
which veterinary medicine is held at the present day. But what 
proves still more decidedly the honourable rank that it occupies 
in the scientific world is, that it was not long before the Royal 
Institution counted among its members two Professors from the 
Alfort School (Yvart and Huzard). These were soon increased to 
five, and then to six, a convincing proof of the increasing regard 
in which they were held. Two years ago, Barthelemy, a vete- 
rinary surgeon, was voted to the Presidency of the Institute by 
an immense majority of votes. 
