664 PRKSKNT STATE OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION. 
has been confessedly done to the veterinary surgeon, in connexion 
with one great body of his employers. In my own mind, I en- 
tirely exonerate ThrVeterinarian from any blame whatever in 
the transaction. Ought I also to spare the Professor of the Veteri- 
nary College ? I remember an anecdote, I have often heard re- 
peated as a fact, of a hard riding farmer. He was leading man 
in a splendid run with the Duke of Rutland’s hounds, when he 
came to a fine piece of growing wheat of his own, that was as 
yet unsullied by a hoof print. He stopped on the near side of the 
fence, without the courage to deface its beautiful appearance. 
Not so the next horseman, — he had no such scruples, and dashed 
on. The whole field followed, and when the last man but himself 
had done so, “ Damn it,” said he, “ it is no use mincing thematter, 
(these were his own words), one more cannot make much differ- 
ence ; so here goes:” and he followed en route. 
The application is easily made. The galled jade will wince, 
and those who have suffered will complain. I shall not speak 
on this head, as most of your contributors have done, in the third 
person, but in the first. I calculate, as brother Jonathan would 
say, that, from the effect of the Professor’s circular, and after- 
proceedings which it gave rise to, J lost the attendance on at 
least three hundred cases that I might fairly have calculated 
upon in the ordinary state of things. I should have less cause, 
perhaps, to grumble, if l could consider that what I have lost 
m emolument the community has gained : but I am thoroughly 
convinced that, during the late epidemic amongst cattle, in 
loss of milk, loss of condition, and loss of life, the great body of 
farmers throughout England were sufferers to a much greater 
extent than they would have been if they had been left to have 
called in their own veterinary surgeon, as they would most pro- 
bably have done but for this unjust interference. 
Now, Sir, if you will allow me, ! have a wish to propose a mo- 
tion for the consideration of the Veterinary Medical Society, 
through the medium of your pages. I have never yet addressed 
myself directly to that Society, and while the connexion between 
you, in a measure, subsists, will avail myself, if you please, of 
your kindness. 1 have long had it on my mind, that, in addition 
to the valuable ends already proposed by this Society, it ought to 
add that of affording protection to its members against the con- 
sequences of certain legal transactions. I have in my eye at this 
moment the case of Mr. Thomas, veterinary surgeon of Liver- 
pool, against whom a jury brought a verdict, with damages, for 
doing what almost every veterinary practitioner does, that is, he 
tied a horse up after blistering him, in the most proper way he 
could possibly have tied him 5 a verdict which proves that there 
