EXAMINATION OF HOUSES. 
107 
We will not adopt, to its full extent, the strong language of a 
highly talented junior member of our profession, whose letter 
shall certainly have a place in our next number, and should have 
appeared in this, had it arrived in time : — “ As to Veterinary 
Jurisprudence, a part of veterinary knowledge which it is of the 
utmost importance we should excel in, what is it? A by- 
word among the legal profession — a laughing-stock for the sensi- 
ble portion of society — a blank in the pages of the veterinary 
dictionary — a stain on the character of the profession.” This is 
strong language, not, we trust, yet applicable in its full extent. 
But this is certain — it is as clear as the sun at noonday — that it 
needs but a few more exhibitions of this kind to make the exa- 
mination of horses by veterinary surgeons a perfect laughing- 
stock among horsemen. 
Do we mean to impugn the judgment of these gentlemen? 
No, no! — their reputation as veterinary practitioners, and as 
judges of the horse, is sufficiently established in the opinion of 
every one that has to do with that animal ; and, perhaps, we are 
not quite sorry that this expose involves such men as these, and 
not others of less repute. It is the inevitable consequence of the 
system of veterinary education that has been hitherto pursued. 
The human surgeon is probably a few times, and a very few 
times in his life, called upon to give evidence in cases of medical 
jurisprudence; and that he should not then compromise his own 
reputation and that of the profession to which he belongs, he is com- 
pelled to attend a course of lectures of considerable length on 
this particular subject. The veterinary surgeon every day of his 
life, if he has much practice, is called on to give his opinion of 
the soundness or unsoundness of the horse, or of some other domes- 
ticated animal, and that opinion may be the subject of judicial 
investigation : and what instruction does he receive ? Is he com- 
pelled to attend a course of proportionably greater length on the 
subject of veterinary judisprudence ? — or, considering the greater 
mystery which hangs over the examination of a dumb patient, 
compared with one who can answer our questions and dispel 
many a doubt, is the course still more lengthened ? 
Tell it not in Gath ! W hen we were students at the Veterinary 
College, the whole course of instruction with respect to this 
