558 EXAMINATION OF THE VETERINARY STUDENTS 
“ This frank declaration was followed by some disagreeable con¬ 
sequences. We had not as yet any veterinary surgeons suffi¬ 
ciently instructed, and capable of directing that service, and, at 
the same time, versed in military affairs. Nevertheless, to pre¬ 
vent as much as possible the repetition of these abuses, I had 
demanded that all the new horses should be brought to me before 
they were purchased for any regiment. The minister consented 
to this; but a difficulty then presented itself. Being the only 
veterinary surgeon in Egypt, I could not go every day to Cairo, 
and continue to teach my pupils. It was necessary then to 
bring the animals to Abou-Zabel, or let things remain in statu 
quo; and it was determined, in spite of my earnest remonstrances, 
that the latter should be the case. 
“Another and a great advantage would have resulted from the 
measure which I wished to adopt: if the horses had been sent 
to Abou-Zabel, the pupils would have acquired considerable tact 
in the examination of these animals; and would have been better 
prepared for this important part of their duty when they quitted 
the hospital. 
“ On their side, as may be readily imagined, the persons whose 
mal-practices I had exposed were not inactive. They were conti¬ 
nually exclaiming against the institution imported into Egypt 
by the genius of Mehemet Ali. Then, with a view to shelter 
themselves from any future surveillance, they attached to the 
depot of the remount, with the title of veterinary surgeon, an 
ignorant renegade, to whom the council of health had a few days 
before refused the grade of sub-assistant. They went farther : 
the Turk, chiefly charged with the purchase of the horses, 
boasted of the ability of his protege, and presented him to the 
superior authorities as a very talented man ; and these intrigues 
succeeded so well, that the charlatan was presently named vete¬ 
rinary military inspector. He had castrated several horses with 
success, and he did not fail to turn this to the best advantage. 
* The veterinary school was far inferior to the horse-gelder—he 
had rendered immense services, and the new institution of Abou- 
Zabel was only burdensome to the government/ Our antagonist 
began to control the proceedings of our school, and, supported by 
some influential men, he gained the confidence of the superior 
powers. He received and dispatched horses destined for military 
service, he accompanied the inspectors, and he corresponded di¬ 
rectly with the minister. In the meantime our school had been 
visited by many of the superior officers, and by his Excellency 
Akmed Pacha, actually minister of war, and who had given a very 
favourable account of the institution. I have great pleasure in 
publicly stating that that illustrious personage was constantly 
