THE VETERINARY PRACTITIONER. 
271 
much more frequent occurrence. The veterinarian, knowing all 
this, not from hearsay but from the actual practice of his own 
hands, having had the same thing happen to himself — learns so 
to appreciate the abilities of his workmen, as to bestow praise 
or censure, when alone praise or censure is justly due. A good 
artificer will always work with more pleasure and satisfaction 
under a master who, himself, understands and can put his hand 
to the business, than under one who knows nothing, save the 
theory of it. With the one he feels himself to be in a safer situ- 
ation than with the other ; he stands in higher estimation, has a 
firmer tenure, being far too much valued to be discharged for 
any light offence on the part of himself, or caprice on the part 
of his master. 
As regards, then, his patient, as regards his workmen, as re- 
gards himself— his own convenience, his own interest — it is, on 
all these accounts, advisable that the veterinarian should be 
made perfect in the handicrafts of horseshoe-making, paring out 
feet, and putting on shoes ; nor would it be amiss, were the art 
even of nail-manufacture added to this : circumstances and si- 
tuations may occur where proficiency in the art of making horse- 
nails might prove of the greatest service to him. 
In recommending that this practical branch of the veterinary 
art be taught at the schools, I am not introducing any innova- 
tion. Sainbel, in his College regulations, provided for it; and 
I believe the same will be found practised in most, if not in all, 
of the continental schools. 
In every veterinary school, either the man who is appointed 
foreman at the forge, or some person in the capacity of professor 
of shoeing, should be deputed to instruct the pupils in the art 
of shoe-making and shoeing horses; and, without his certificate 
of qualification, no pupil should be admitted for examination. 
There would be a difficulty, no doubt, at first, with many young 
men to induce them to strip and apply their hands to the 
“ black” work. Precept and example, however, would in time 
overcome all such false delicacy ; and should there be any in 
whom, after due time, they failed to have this effect, the test 
would be as good a one as could be desired of their total unfit- 
.ness to practise “ the veterinary art in all its branches.” 
P. 
