THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 33 
cumstances, to bleed and perform the ordinary minor operations 
attendant on the administration of medicine ] I think that the 
necessity for such a course of instruction must be obvious to every 
gentleman who has the least idea of the sort of education neces- 
sary for the pupil to be well acquainted with before he be launched 
into the world as fit to practise his profession. 
I am led to these remarks by having heard reports that these 
most vital and necessary duties are not permitted within the walls 
of that establishment, or, at all events, not to the extent required ; 
and am utterly at a loss to imagine why this should be the case, 
as I perfectly recollect that, during the professorship of Mr. Cole- 
man, such was not the case. At that period, two pupils were en- 
trusted with the care of the medical treatment of the horses, and 
it was so arranged that one went off duty every week, and was 
replaced by a fresh one : the consequence was, a young man could 
then leave the College with a practical knowledge of horse tactics, 
so essential to his insuring the confidence of any horseman under 
whose observation he came. Imagine a young veterinary surgeon 
going into a gentleman’s stable, incompetent to perform the simple 
operation of blood-letting : the same observation will apply to the 
practical instruction he ought to obtain in cattle practice. Every 
one knows how necessary it must be for the young aspirant to be 
well accustomed to the method of approaching and handling of 
cattle, sheep, and pigs, in order effectually to treat their maladies. 
I have ventured thus far to throw out the above hints, and 
should be too happy to find that the reports above alluded to were 
unfounded; but should the converse be the case, I sincerely hope 
that the Professor at the head of the establishment will immedi- 
ately see the necessity of resorting to measures for a better prac- 
tical instruction of the young persons confided to his care, and just 
consider that their friends have a right to expect, when they leave 
the College, that they will do so with such competent practical 
knowledge as will insure their successful advent into professional 
life. 
I shall not intrude further upon your valuable space by making 
a long apology for the above remarks, knowing too well that, 
should you consider them likely to be beneficial, not only to the 
rising generation but to the public, in your usual philanthropy you 
will not hesitate to give them a place in your next number. 
I am, Sir, 
Your’s obediently. 
VOL. XXI. 
F 
