PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. 603 
even then be sufficient ? When, therefore, we come to consider 
that the course of our instruction is lamentably deficient, and we 
farther reflect, that that thorough acquaintance with the ana- 
tomy, physiology, and pathology of the animals committed to 
our charge is, as I before stated, neither fully taught nor de- 
scribed, — is it any wonder that our professional education is 
defective? And can we, on calmly considering all these things, 
say that our College has fulfilled its duty in the training up of 
the veterinary student ? Has it continued to raise the super- 
structure proportional to the increasing wants of its inmates, 
although its foundations were so well planned and laid ? Has 
it, when the increasing wants of the profession demanded it — 
when our board of examiners requested that the student would 
make himself better acquainted with his profession, and that, in 
addition to his former acquirements, he should know something 
of chemistry, matera medica, and pharmacy ? Have they, I 
ask, hastened to afford increased facilities within its walls for 
such purposes ? I think not. 
It is not my wish, and still further from my intention, to say 
one word in this, or any other of my communications, which is 
contrary to truth, or not in accordance with perfect justice ; but 
the nature of the subject which I have undertaken demands that, 
however unpleasant it may be to my own feelings, however un- 
pleasant to the feelings of others, the truth, the whole truth 
must be stated. Actuated by these feelings, I have treated, to 
the best of my ability, of the present state of our professional 
knowledge, and the character of professional education, as ex- 
hibited both in our private and public course of instruction ; and 
although this instruction has not attained that state of extension 
and perfection which is desirable, and notwithstanding every 
disadvantage which the student may labour under, satisfied I 
am that he may, if he thinks proper, obtain due acquaintance 
with the structure, functions, and diseases of the animals which 
are his study, and that he may become acquainted with the 
rudiments of chemistry, pharmacy, and matera medica, all of 
which, however, can only be accomplished by great industry and 
perseverance, and considerable extraneous expense. There is 
one subject, nevertheless, with which I arn not quite sure that he 
can obtain a perfect acquaintance, and which, as forming an 
important branch of both private and public professional educa- 
tion, I now propose to treat of — I mean Veterinary Jurisprudence. 
Veterinary Jurisprudence is, of all things, the most requisite 
for a veterinarian accurately to understand ; and whatever its 
present state may be among the profession — to whatever cause 
this or that individual may trace its degraded state — the fact is. 
