334 
ON THE FUTURE EDUCATION OF THE 
patients generally, I must necessarily explain, in some measure, 
the views I entertain of the proper education of a veterinary sur- 
geon. I will take it for granted, that we are now in a position to 
acquire, with proper personal application, all that is necessary with 
regard to one of our patients at least — the horse. We are, at any 
rate, progressing rapidly in this department. The complete esta- 
blishment of The VETERINARIAN, a work which has rendered and 
is still rendering the most essential services to the profession by 
its diffusion of scientific knowledge, and the good feeling which it 
has been the means of promoting or encouraging amongst its 
members, evinced by the ready and kind communication of im- 
portant facts in its pages every month — the establishment of the 
Veterinary Medical Association, founded and carried on as it is on 
the broad basis of equal rights and mutual assistance ; and the 
Old Establishment at St. Pancras, with its professors and teachers, 
furnish, altogether, ample means to a previously well educated 
young man to acquire sufficient information in this branch of our 
art to enable him to practise with credit to himself and advantage 
to his neighbours. A few evils still undoubtedly exist; but it 
might be unwise seriously to notice them on the present occasion, 
as I do not fear they will be corrected by those in authority, or 
eventually correct themselves. 
But as it is an admitted fact, that there are as yet no legitimate 
and sufficient means offered to veterinary students of acquiring 
that knowledge which will fit them for practitioners amongst our 
other patients, particularly the more important ones, cattle and 
sheep ; and as the Society before referred to has, 1 believe, very 
kindly made some advances towards rendering us assistance, I 
earnestly hope it will be dealt out with no niggardly hand, but be 
really such as will reflect credit on themselves, while they are con- 
ferring a valuable boon on their country by sending forth men 
conversant with the history, the habits, the wants, the diseases of 
their patients ; — men who would be qualified not only to attend 
them under disease, but who might become the friends and ad- 
visers of their patrons in the breeding, rearing, and general ma- 
nagement of their stock. 
I had hoped, then, that something of the following kind might 
be effected : — Suppose that a farm were taken, large enough to 
maintain a few of every distinct breed of sheep and cattle. Inde- 
pendent of the advantages which might accrue to the veterinary 
student, it strikes me that an experimental breeding-farm, con- 
ducted on the best principles, might be productive of great na- 
tional benefit ; and I see no fair reason to suppose that it ought to 
be a very losing concern. Suppose, then, that in this establish- 
ment accommodation was provided for veterinary students, and 
