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ADVICE TO VETERINARY STUDENTS. 
pupil who values substantial happiness more than the phantom of 
it, to devote the first periods of his life to a very serious pursuit of 
every branch of knowledge which can contribute to give him not 
only a practical but a theoretical skill in his profession, — not the 
contracted ideas of a mercenary practitioner, but the compre- 
hensive sentiments of a student in philosophy. 
A judicious, liberal, and comprehensive education, is the most 
valuable heritage a parent can bequeath to his child — far more pre- 
cious to its possessor than all the wealth of Ormuz or of Xnd. The 
success of an individual in life mainly depends upon it. There 
are, it is true, many bright and shining names in the page of Bio- 
graphy, who, finding the want of this invaluable endowment, have, 
in a severe and laborious system of self-culture, roused all their 
energies to redeem the time that has been lost. But, instead of 
affording an argument against education, this is the strongest proof 
of the necessity they felt to acquire that which should enable them 
to run the race with competitors disciplined by early training to 
contend for the prize of knowledge. Why, when the means of 
instruction are multiplying around us, should we lay upon our 
children the additional burthen of making bricks without straw ? 
The necessity of keeping pace with the general advance of 
science and civilization, renders it absolutely imperative upon 
those students who wish to attain eminence in their profession, to 
pursue a higher line of mental training than has hitherto been 
accounted necessary for their advancement. In fact, a liberal edu- 
cation is indispensably essential to enable the student to pursue 
with success the means of advancement in his profession. Addison 
has aptly compared a human soul without education to marble in 
the quarry, which shews none of its inherent beauties until the 
skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface 
shine, and discovers every ornamental spot and vein that runs 
through the body of it. Education, in like manner, where it 
works upon a noble mind, draws out to view every latent virtue 
and perfection, which without such a help are never able to make 
their appearance. 
By education I understand that system of training the moral, 
physical, and mental powers, which provides for each its regular 
and appropriate exercise, and, by an harmonious blending of their 
various attributes, gradually builds up the character of the individual 
for the station he is destined hereafter to fill. 
This system of training may be commenced much earlier than is 
often supposed; but it is to be regretted, that it is frequently inju- 
diciously pursued, from the want of skill in maintaining the balance 
between the activity of the moral, mental, and corporeal faculties. 
If either is sedulously cultivated to the exclusion of the others, we 
