218 
VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
They have been brought up under their father’s roof, or, 
coming from a different line in life, they have been apprenticed to 
some veterinary surgeon. They have conducted themselves with 
a certain degree of propriety, and they have acquired some useful 
knowledge — they have been accustomed to various manipulations, 
a quickness and neatness in the performance of which are of 
great importance — but they have had neither time, nor oppor- 
tunity, nor inclination to make themselves acquainted with the 
cause, or diagnosis, or perpetually varying character and treat- 
ment of disease. 
Their apprenticeship has passed, and what course do they 
pursue ? Do they present themselves at the Veterinary College, 
and honestly devote themselves to the study of the anatomy of 
their patients, without a perfect knowledge of which they are 
liable to continual and irreparable errors ? Do they inquire into 
the laws by which the various functions of life are connected and 
discharged — or do they trace, connected with the anatomy and 
physiology of their patients, the causes of disease and the laws 
of life and of death? No ; but with the presumption and folly 
of youth, they look out for some suitable residence, and set up 
in business for themselves. In the town of Liverpool no fewer 
than three have done so within the last half year, and in other 
parts of the country we have heard of seven others who have 
pursued the same objectionable course of conduct. Can they 
possibly hope to succeed ? 
We had some conversation with two of them. The first stated 
that, from the diffusion of the late abominable Circular, the prac- 
tice of veterinary surgeons everywhere was fearfully diminished, 
and that, with his present prospects, he really could not afford to 
spend £100 or £150 at the College, and was compelled to 
adopt the course which he did. It was difficult to reply to this ; 
and we can only hope that some favourable circumstances may, 
at no great distance of time, enable him to effect that which he 
evidently desired — a residence at one of our schools. 
The other took a somewhat equivocal course. He seemed to 
have the means of meeting the expenses of a College education, 
but he professed to doubt the advantages that it would bestow. 
“ The lectures on the pathology of the horse,” he said, u were 
