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DEFECTIVE VETERINARY EDUCATION. 
By Alex. Henderson, M.R.C.V.S . , Veterinary Surgeon to the 
Queen Dowager. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Sir, — I HA.VE to thank you for the insertion of two letters ; and 
as you inserted in your last Number an editorial comment from the 
“ Mark Lane Express” on them, to the following effect, — “ The 
importance of veterinary science to the owners of cattle and horses 
in this kingdom is so great, that if the statements made by Mr. 
Henderson are correct, means must be taken to remedy the evil. 
The establishment of a second school or college would, in all proba- 
bility, have the desired effect,” I take the liberty of again intrud- 
ing on your space. 
The statements I have made are simple matters of fact, and have 
existed so long, that patience has at last become exhausted. If in- 
quiry were but instituted, so much neglect and want of proper 
management would be found to exist in our veterinary schools as 
scarcely could be credited. The consequence of this neglect has 
been brought home to my feelings as a parent, with one son a vete- 
rinary surgeon, and another who will shortly have to commence 
his studies for the same ; and finding thaf every effort that has been 
made to induce the proper authorities to remove or amend those 
evils has not been attended with success, I have addressed myself to 
you, in hopes that, by making the matter public, others possessing 
greater influence may take such notice of them as will bring about 
a change for the better. 
I have no wish for the establishment of another school, my ob- 
ject being to draw the attention of the parties who have the control 
or management of the present Veterinary College towards the ex- 
isting abuses and neglect. 
The Veterinary College of London was established in the year 
1791, and the circumstances were briefly as follow : — A society of 
noblemen and gentlemen, formed for the purpose of the encourage- 
ment of agriculture, and from the plan of meeting called the 
“ Odiham Society,” somewhere about 1786, determined that a few 
young men of promise should be sent, at the expense of the society, 
to study the veterinary art at the French veterinary school that 
had been established some years before. Just as their arrange- 
ments were about to be completed, M. Vial de St. Bel, a young 
French veterinarian of great promise, came to this country, and 
endeavoured to lay the foundation for a veterinary college ; but 
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