OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. 
141 
pleasing, yet much more delightful is it to survey its present 
state and future progress, because it is a subject more of interest 
to us ; for although much has been done towards raising the 
science to its proper level, much still remains to be done, to the 
performance of which it is our duty, no less than our interest, to 
apply ourselves. 
The present state of veterinary science presents some remark- 
able features, which may be considered under the following 
heads : 
First, Professional Knowledge ; secondly, Professional Educa- 
tion; thirdly, Professional Respectability; and, lastly, their 
Results. 
I think it will be allowed, that professional knowledge ought 
to consist primarily in a thorough acquaintance with the ana- 
tomy, physiology, and pathology of the animals committed to our 
charge ; the anatomy of which should comprehend an intimate 
knowledge of the bones, their structure, number, form, and situ- 
ation ; the ridges, eminences, depressions, foramina, pits and 
grooves in each of them ; their names, what muscles they give 
origin to, what nerves or arteries pass through them, and what 
ligaments play upon them, or are attached to them ; likewise the 
muscles and ligaments, their structure, number, form, origin, in- 
sertion, and use ; also the arteries, veins, and absorbents, their 
structure, course, and distribution : likewise the brain and 
nerves, their structure, origin, and distribution : to these may be 
added, an accurate knowledge of the contents of the thorax, ab- 
domen, and pelvis. A knowledge of these different parts consti- 
tutes the anatomical attainments of a good veterinarian, but which, 
in the present state of our science, 1 am sorry to say, is neither 
fully taught nor described by our anatomists, and therefore not 
possessed by the majority of our profession. The following is as- 
signed by an eminent writer as the reason : — “ The veterinary 
practitioner does not require so accurate an anatomy as the sur- 
geon : he has seldom to cut down on an artery, never to ampu- 
tate a limb. There are some parts of the animal, indeed, of 
which a knowledge would lead to little or no practical utility 
whatever; such are many muscles of the back, loins, neck, and 
head ; the minute structure of the brain and nervous system, 
the precise course of bloodvessels removed from external injury, 
and some others/’ This reason is in the mouth of nearly every 
student ; this is his plea for neglecting a part of his professional 
knowledge, which he deems unnecessary for him to know, and 
therefore never tries to attain. May not, I would ask, “ that 
seldom to cut down on an artery” happen in the first case a stu- 
dent may have? Yes; and he may even have to amputate a 
