350 
MR. FRYER AND MR. YOUATT. 
disease, and that disease runs its course, prevented by its very 
intensity from mingling with any other. 
Then why this violent and unfounded attack on the Editor of 
The Veteriarian? Because he had devoted himself to the 
study of, and had ventured to unfold, so far as he had the power, 
the nature, causes and systematic treatment of the diseases of 
quadrupeds, and, following the practice of the best of our own sur- 
geons, as well as those of the human being, communicated the 
result of his labours to his brethren and the world. Where is the 
practitioner, or, at least, where is the professor of human medi- 
cine, who has not done the same. Our Bells, our Coopers, our 
Coplands, have pursued precisely the same course with regard 
to the nobler branch of the healing art. What has been the 
consequence? In proportion as the knowledge of disease gene- 
rally, or of particular disease, and the best mode of remedial 
treatment have been divulged, has the patient begun to think and 
to practise for himself, and has the medical man been dismissed? 
No ! no ! ! far from it : but the sufferer, seeing that which concerns 
himself so accurately stated, forms a higher opinion of the me- 
dical profession, and eagerly resorts to the surgeon for information 
on many a point interesting to himself, and for assistance in the 
treatment of every disease. 
So it is with regard to the practice of the veterinary art. The 
farmer or the gentleman has been accustomed to commit the 
medical treatment of his horses or his cattle to the care of the 
farrier or the leech, and he occasionally loses many a valuable ani- 
mal. At length a work on the veterinary art falls in his way. He 
eagerly peruses it. He sees the cause of many an error and of 
many a loss; and he, perhaps, thinks a little of doctoring for him- 
self; but, in proportion as he reads and acts, he finds one difficulty 
after another which he cannot unravel, and at length he goes — and 
he afterwards blesses the day that he did go — to some veterinary 
practitioner of acknowledged professional talent. His difficulties 
and his doubts are soon dispersed, and a union of interest and of 
friendship is formed between them which is rarely or never broken. 
An alliance is cemented, to which the man of foolish degrading 
mystery can never hope to aspire. Such would be the case with 
the profession generally, if a certain class of our practitioners could 
but see their true interest. 
