75 
ON THE STATE OF THE PROFESSION. 
By W. Cox, Sen., M.R.C.V.S., Ashbourne. 
I was much pleased to perceive that you thought it your 
duty as Editors, in the Leader of the last number of the 
Veterinarian , to endeavour to rouse the veterinary profession 
from the state of apathy which of late has crept over us as a 
body. 
It is my opinion that there is something of the kind very 
much wanted among us as a es protective society,’' the pro- 
posal of which was brought before us in your pages by Pro- 
fessor Varnell. And the formation of local associations of 
veterinary surgeons, as suggested by another member of the 
profession, would unquestionably be conducive of good if 
properly carried out. 
One thing, among others, that an association of this kind 
might turn its attention to is, that each county should 
have a separate list of its members published yearly ; and 
that the judges of our county courts should be supplied with 
this annual list. 
The injustice done to us in these courts, by classing us with 
some of the most ignorant of men, and publishing our names 
side by side with theirs, in the county newspapers, without 
any distinction whatever being made, so that the public 
generally are unable to distinguish the professional man from 
the mere pretender, is a great evil ; more particularly to the 
younger members of our profession — those that are just 
starting in life. The authorised list of graduated members 
would tend to remove this, and place us in our proper posi- 
tion with the public. 
From the discordant opinions which unfortunately prevail 
among us, I am afraid it will prove almost a hopeless task to 
improve our state of veterinary jurisprudence. One vete^ 
rinary surgeon comes forward and says, he having found pus 
in a horse's or cow's lungs, that the animal has been diseased 
for months; whilst another will stand forward and swear 
that what has just been described will take place in as many 
weeks. One professional man can see a speck in a horse's 
eye, while another cannot discover it even with his spectacles 
on. One can perceive an incipient bone-spavin, at the same 
time another can neither see nor feel it. These disagree- 
ments are much to be regretted. On the other hand, I can- 
not see why there should be any difference of opinion as to 
what constitutes unsoundness, and what does not. Is it not 
