STATE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. 
27 1 
ranee, the pupil ought to be a little prepared to understand the 
meaning of these terms, and, we may add, should be able to 
translate French : yet such is the apathy, must I say the illibe- 
rally, possessed by many members of the profession — such the 
narrow-minded policy displayed, that because they managed 
without such knowledge, they deny these useful acquisitions to 
their children, and send them to College to scramble through 
their difficulties as well as they can, with little more than their 
practical knowledge to support them. If, in addition to this, the 
other branches of education have all been neglected, can we look 
for or expect such persons to become ornaments in our pro- 
fession ? 
While, however, I deplore this narrow-minded policy, this de- 
basing system adopted by many in our profession, I cannot but 
rejoice that a contrary and a noble course is adopted by others 
who have performed their duty in this respect, and whose children 
and pupils are likely to become useful members of our pro- 
fession. 
There is a part of the primary education of a veterinary sur- 
geon which 1 am happy to find is becoming more regarded, 
viz. apprenticeships. A few years ago, among the number of 
students that entered the College, the majority had never been 
in practice before. Now it is just the contrary. When a person 
enters a public institution, having previously had the opportunity 
of seeing and assisting in the treatment of many a case, we natu- 
rally expect that he comes well grounded in the rudiments of his 
profession ; that the persons, whether parents or masters, under 
whose tuition he has been placed, have exerted themselves in 
pointing out, as opportunity offered, the causes, peculiar symp- 
toms, and probable termination of each disease, as well as making 
him acquainted with the morbid appearances of diseased parts ,* 
— directing also his mind to those books where he may ob- 
tain the best and most correct information on veterinary sub- 
jects. We expect likewise that they have explained (which is 
also their duty), to a certain extent, the anatomy and physiology 
of those animals to whom his attention will be directed in future 
practice. Do those upon whom this obligation falls, fulfil to the 
proper extent, or any where near it, their duty in laying the 
foundation of a veterinary surgeon’s education ? I fear not : yet 
at the same time we rejoice that many may be found who do 
so. We at the same time leave it to the consciences of far too 
many persons to reconcile their having faithfully promised to 
teach (as it is expressed in the indentures) the art, mystery, or 
business, of a veterinary surgeon, and who have not fulfilled their 
engagements in these most important particulars ; nay, have 
