AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. 
201 
To the ordinary pupils of such an establishment might be 
added a certain number of older, or superior pupils, who might 
be more thoroughly instructed in chemistry, and in every science 
connected with agriculture, with the knowledge of the French and 
German languages. The cost of their education might be £35 
or £40 per annum. 
We have stated, at this length, the plan of this gentleman, not 
merely as that which, being once established, could not fail of suc- 
ceeding, and would be one of the greatest blessings that could be 
bestowed on the children of the farmer, but because two or three 
years’ residence in such a school would be of inestimable advantage 
to him whose ultimate views are directed to the practice of the ve- 
terinary art. The evil attending a very considerable proportion of 
veterinary pupils when they arrive at the College is their almost 
total ignorance connected with and illustrative of their profession. 
The public is now beginning to expect from them an appearance 
and acquirements far superior to what would enable them to pass 
decently through life only a few years ago. They mingle with 
medical men — in the courtesies of life they are placed almost on 
a level with them. How degrading, how galling, for many a little 
false pronunciation to be continually revealing their inferiority of 
education ! A competent knowledge of, at least, the Latin lan- 
guage exerts an influence on the conversation, the manner of ex- 
pression, the mode of thought, the whole mental character of the 
youth, almost incredible. The common intercourse of society, and 
especially the progress of science, render some acquaintance with 
French literature highly useful to the veterinary pupil. But, 
more than all, and the importance of which cannot be too highly 
estimated, is the knowledge which the youth would acquire of the 
minutest particulars of the breed, and growth, and food, and treat- 
ment, and management, and dangers, and worth, of every patient 
that would in after-life be submitted to his care. Where is the 
well-known difference between the evident relief which we look to 
experience, and do generally experience, from the attendance of the 
medical man who has been the friend of our family for years, and 
that of a stranger newly introduced? Why does disease so soon dis- 
appear under the care of the former, and the patient long remain in 
D d 
VOL. XTI. 
