182 SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 
important, and I may say, indispensable principles of vete- 
rinary jurisprudence to the students, based upon the expe- 
rience which their years in the profession had afforded them, 
and amplified by the views and opinions of those members 
to whom they had free access whenever they felt inclined to 
correspond with them upon questions relative to the subject. 
Had this been the case, then the gentlemen who immedi- 
ately succeeded them as teachers would have followed up 
this part of the education of the pupils with the same zeal, 
and long ere this something closely approaching to unanimity 
of opinion would have been established throughout the pro- 
fession respecting many diseases which now constitute so 
much dispute amongst its members in regard to unsound- 
ness. At all events, I should conclude that those who entered 
the profession subsequent to the time that veterinary juris- 
prudence formed a part of their education at the College, 
would have been tolerably unanimous in their opinions ; and 
if so, doubtless many of the older members would have yielded 
up their dogmas, and time would have worn out the re- 
mainder. 
But though the result of the discussion of Mr. PercivalPs 
paper might not unreasonably have been expected to have 
shown to the then professors the necessity of such a course 
of instruction, we cannot wonder that so much discrepancy of 
opinion as was exhibited on that occasion, should have had 
an opposite effect, and raised in their minds such an appa- 
rent difficulty to fulfil this duty efficiently, effectually, and 
satisfactorily, as to deter them from making the attempt. I 
wish not to be understood as finding fault with the omission, 
as under the circumstances I might have acted just the same, 
nor do I say that the present professors entirely omit this 
subject. Moreover, I apprehend that they are fully compe- 
tent to form a code of rules for our guidance, and I have 
every confidence that the object we desire can be accomplished 
by them. I am also of opinion that the parent institution is 
the proper source from which such should emanate. 
We all have our crotchets about soundness and unsound- 
ness, and some of them are odd fancies enough. The cause 
of this is quite patent ; we were not instructed in veterinary 
jurisprudence at the College, and were consequently driven to 
acquire some knowledge of it in the best way we could, 
getting a wrinkle occasionally at the expense even of our own 
credit, and now and then at the cost of our employers, — 
hence as many men, as many minds upon the subject. 
Some there are, who think themselves never so brilliant as 
in the witness-box, and take to their own account vast and 
