OBSERVATIONS ON LIEUT. JAM ES S BOOK. 
447 
the 53d page ; a gross libel on veterinary science, as well as 
on sportsmen in particular. It says, “the study of veterinary 
science has of late years occupied, to, a very great extent, the 
time of sporting men and gentlemen of fortune, so much so as to 
supersede the veterinary surgeon in many parts of the country .” 
Now, against the doctrine here insinuated I beg leave to enter 
my protest, and to bear my humble testimony that, so far from 
this being the case, I have always found that gentlemen who 
have studied the veterinary science as amateurs are great friends 
and supporters of its legitimate practitioners. The effect of 
their study is not calculated to render them opiniative and 
conceited, but rather to enable them to distinguish between 
the ignorant empiric and the man of science, and to estimate 
correctly the merits of either. For my own part, I would always 
prefer such a man for my employer to one who scarcely knows 
the difference between a hunter and a rocking horse. 
Let me ask, too, is Nimrod, than whom, perhaps, there 
scarcely exists an amateur who is more conversant with veteri- 
nary matters — is Nimrod the friend or foe of veterinary surgeons ? 
Does he not always express his opinions on veterinary matters 
with the modesty of true merit, and invariably recommend the 
employment of skilful practitioners? 
Certainly, we veterinary surgeons ought to feel a mighty 
debt of gratitude to Lieut. James, for in no less than two places 
he actually condescends to advise our being employed, though 
only, as at page 34, in cases of such rare occurrence as scarcely 
to occur once in a hundred times; but then he mentions a cir- 
cumstance of a veterinary surgeon being averse to blistering, be- 
cause “ it cured too soon,” and employing “ 25 bottles of lotions 
at 3s. Od. per bottle without effect;” and another who ran up a 
bill of £20 without curing the disease. Now, whether these 
cases be true or fictitious, the object for which they are adduced 
is pretty plain, viz., to insinuate into the minds of the public that 
such is the usual practice of us unfortunate wights. 
“ Tis an ill bird,” they say, “ that dirts its own nest.” But 
“ is it his own nest?” perhaps you will exclaim, Mr. Editor. 
Why, not exactly so, I confess ; that is, if the list of veterinary 
surgeons published by the College be authentic ; but then you 
must remember that cuckoos will usurp the nests of other birds ; 
and without any great stretch of the imagination it would be 
easy to conceive Professor Coleman as the parent bird to 
whose care this cuckoo has consigned its offspring to be fostered 
by the warmth of bis influence, and recommended by the bounty 
of his patronage, to the manifold injury of the Professor’s legiti- 
mate offspring, the regular practitioners. 
