548 
COliRESPON DENCE WITH 
as it is, against any attempt to render The Veterinarian an 
exclusive publication. If such an attempt should unfortunately 
succeed through the instrumentality of my professional brethren, 
I think no act that could possibly be devised by the ingenuity of 
man would have a greater tendency to render us, as a professional 
body, the laughing-stock and contempt of every scientific person. 
Secresy is only a cloak for ignorance in most things, and so in- 
deed would the thinking portion of the community regard it in 
reference to the proposed partial distribution or circulation of our 
monthly Periodical. My conduct in respect to it has been, and 
I hope will continue to be, very different. 
I have recently been requested to become the librarian to a 
farmer’s club established in this place, for the purpose of diffus- 
ing the best information on agricultural subjects by means of 
periodicals and other selected works, as well as occasional lec- 
tures by members of the club. Now I should be very averse to 
recommend anything which I might deem inimical to my interest. 
I did not, however, hesitate in the least, on the establishment of 
this society, to recommend The Veterinarian as well worth 
the attention of its members. Jt is regularly taken in ; and I re- 
joice to say that it is read by some of my best employers, and 
who, I believe, are disposed from the very perusal of that talented 
work to appreciate more highly the superior qualifications of a 
veterinary surgeon in comparison with the cowleech or farrier. 
It is for this very reason that, on all occasions in the course of my 
practice, I endeavour to explain the principles upon which I act, 
the object sought after by the medicine given, and the effects likely 
to result. The impression on my mind is, that by such a mode of 
proceeding, if generally adopted, we should succeed in establish- 
ing a kind of test, by which our employer may be led to discover 
the mere ignorant pretender from the man who practises on 
correct principles, and who is always ready to give a reason for 
what he does. Do not then, Sir, be induced by the contracted or 
selfish views of any of the profession to carry their exclusive ob- 
ject into effect. 
There is not an individual connected with the Royal Veterinary 
College for whom I entertain a higher respect than the talented 
Lecturer on Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His unwearied industry, 
and indefatigable exertions in the situation which he occupies, 
have often been the theme of my humble praise. To speak 
phrenologically, his large organ of ideality enriches every line he 
writes with a kind of poetic radiance. He, I am sure, could 
never be seduced to take up, as Byron says, the “ cabin’d, 
cribb’d, and confin’d ” view of the exclusives. I am really at a 
loss to conceive how any well-informed mind can be deluded by 
