ON REGISTRATION AND UNCERTIFICATED PRACTITIONERS. 513 
the second portion of the notice ; and such was withdrawn only 
for convenience, and with the express understanding that it should 
stand over until it could be brought into operation, when its 
passing the Council could hardly be expected to meet with any 
opposition so far as regards the Council and myself as acting Re- 
gistrar. 
But why, after an interval of two ^ears, has it not been carried 
out 1 — will naturally enough be asked : and to those who know 
nothing of these matters it may appear strange, remiss on the part 
of the Council, and on my part, as acting Registrar, indicative of 
supineness and neglect. If those who are prone to fault-finding 
choose to hold such opinions, they are quite welcome to continue to 
entertain them; for when once a “ cacoethis reprehendi ” is indulged 
in, it soon grows so inveterate that there is no cure for it, and no 
explanations suffice. 
But to those not so afflicted the reason is simple enough, viz. 
that the names and addresses of a sufficiently large portion of the 
members of the body corporate are not known to render such a 
labour really justifiable, as an incomplete or incorrect list would 
be worse than none at all. The reasons for this want of a suffi- 
cient number of returns arises from the indolence or neglect of 
the members themselves, If, like the wagoner who prayed to 
Jupiter to get his wagon out of the hole, instead of putting his 
shoulder to the wheel and so assist the labour of his horses, the 
country practitioners will not give their assistance in carrying out 
such measures as may be judged expedient by the Council for 
mutual benefit, they must remain in their present position, like 
the wagon in the hole. 
With this subject also is connected another, upon which I have 
had several communications addressed to me, some asking my 
advice as to the best manner of treating self-styled veterinary 
surgeons and quacks of various degrees — others telling me of their 
evil doings. To those who have thus given me much information 
I tender my best thanks ; and as I have been honoured by having 
my advice sought upon the subject, of the best manner in which 
such quacks and pretenders should be met, I will here, for the 
benefit of the younger and more irascible members of the body 
corporate, make a few observations. 
Do not oppose them by finding fault with their ignorance, but 
shew by }'our superior skill, knowledge, and propriety of conduct, 
that you are of a superior grade. Every attempt at running them 
down will only lead to their notoriety, which is what they seek ; 
and 1 could mention more than one instance, in our own and in the 
medical profession, where such men have been positively made by 
