560 
COltlt ESPON 1)ENC E WITH 
Here a diploma gives to the veterinary surgeon the vantage 
ground : but to preserve that position he must be a scientific 
practitioner. His diploma cannot cure disease, nor whisper into 
his ear what is amiss, nor direct him how to treat his patient. 
All this must be known ; if not, his diploma, not having made 
him wise, will never make him rich. It is by no means necessary 
that a veterinary surgeon should be a cure-all ; it is only neces- 
sary that he should be what he professes to be : then whether his 
patient recovers or not, his reputation is safe, and with that he can 
obtain more. This also will be in some measure proportioned to 
the opinii n formed by his employers of his ability. I do not 
speak theoretically, but from practical experience. When I am 
called, I feel no hesitation in saying, “ Your horse must die,” 
although much more pleasure in telling my employer that ‘‘he 
needs not to feel very anxious, fori have little or no doubt that 
your horse will recover.” It is my uniform practice to tell my 
employer what l think of every case that is brought to me. 
From Mr. M. E. Naylor, Wakejield. 
I do fervently hope that The Old Veterinarian will 
remain to us for many a long year to come, and that the comple- 
ment of communications to it, will never be essentially diminished. 
As to the manner in which these communications are made, I 
confess that I care little ; for I am confident that nothing will find 
its way into that work which can materially injure the cause of 
veterinary science. As to its present effect in the way in which 
it is conducted, and the kind of persons into whose hands it prin- 
cipally falls, I have quite settled that matter in my own mind. 
I have made it my business to inquire of some of the old farriers 
in my neighbourhood who I know used to read The Veteri- 
narian. They take it no longer; and they give me this as 
their reason — that they cannot understand many of the cases 
reported ; and that the expense is so great, that they have discon- 
tinued the work altogether. 
As to the number of works published on veterinary subjects, l 
wish there were more of them of the proper kind ; for when I find 
any of them in the hands of my employers, I am sure that my 
attendance on the case respecting which I am consulted will be 
pleasant, and, nine times out of ten, successful. I never fear the 
well-informed man. I soon find in him a friend, as well as a 
constant employer. It is when persons have taken no pains, or 
have had no opportunity to inform themselves on these matters, 
that the empiric retains his pre-eminence. 
