PAST AND PRESENT STATE OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. 005 
.at, speaking not as a sportsman, not as a horse-dealer, but ana- 
tomically, physiologically, and pathologically, that horse is 
unsound : and as long as there is a shadow of objection to accept 
this doctrine as the general rule for our professional conduct, we 
shall not cease to have the greatest difference of opinion as to 
whether such and such diseases which the horse may have upon 
him render him unsound or not. 
Would you then, it may be asked, return or advise the pur- 
chaser not to keep every horse that came under your inspection 
who had the most trivial disease ? Certainly not. No general 
rule was ever yet laid down, without there being exceptions to 
it ; and where I know, by practical experience, that such and 
such a trivial disease does not and is not likely to interfere with 
the usefulness or action of the animal, I think I should be per- 
fectly justified in making that an exception to the rule, and 
advising the purchaser to keep the animal. In giving a certi- 
ficate of such a horse, I would, however, express myself thus : — 
This is to certify, that I have examined a aged and find him 
sound, with the exception of a but which I consider as not likely to 
interfere with the usefulness of the animal, or the action of the part in any 
way. (Signed). 
I finally consider, that if the majority of us were agreed upon 
this head, and if veterinary jurisprudence were carried out upon 
this basis, it would become, instead of what it now is — a dis- 
grace — an ornament to our profession. 
I return from this, which may be considered a digression, and 
with some degree of pleasure and pride do I return to remark on 
the next prominent feature of the present state of veterinary 
science, viz., the increasing respectability of our profession ; 
for although we still have reason to regret the conduct of many, 
yet it is here that, probably, the most visible improvement has 
taken place. In character, reputation, and in society at large, 
the veterinary surgeon stands on much higher ground — a fact 
which, from the numerous disadvantages under which we have 
laboured, is a matter of congratulation. Viewing, moreover, the 
subject in a professional light, we derive considerable satisfac- 
tion at the deeper knowledge, more extensive information, 
greater energy and activity displayed by its present members. 
Nor do I think any one thing more abundantly testifies to the 
truth of this remark, than the present state of our veterinary 
press, and the character of our recent publications. 
Several results are naturally to be expected from this present 
state of things : — First, that the profession will go on increasing 
in respectability and professional reputation ; secondly, that our 
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