QUALIFICATIONS OF A VETERINARY SURGEON. 137 
The Professor observes, it is against his own interest to make 
such statements concerning medical veterinary surgeons : in this 
I am sorry I cannot coincide with him. It cannot be doubted 
but that the emoluments arising from the lecture-room are very 
great, when we consider the number of pupils annually entering 
at 20 guineas each ; so that if the pupils were limited to those 
only of education, it would be a matter of no small importance. 
We cannot therefore be surprised that every inducement should 
be held forth for persons of all classes to enter the profession, 
whatever may have been their previous occupations or present 
attainments. But what most we complain of is, that however 
illiterate the party, a favourable prepossession exists, to the 
injury, I had almost said ridicule, of the medico-veterinarian. 
If then the lecture room is filled, it is of little consequence by 
whom, or what their ability to uphold the future respectability 
of the profession; and yet it is not self-interest to make these 
statements,—then-pray what is it ? The medical man, the young 
man of education, is capable of judging for himself, and will not 
be biassed by every varying opinion of his preceptor. These, how¬ 
ever, are not the pupils the Professor wishes for; he must have 
those who will not only fill his lecture-room, but cannot see into 
or interfere with his monopoly. It certainly would not be politic 
to hold forth the contrary of these statements in the present de¬ 
graded state of the profession; since he would, I fear, get few 
medical men or men of education to attend his lectures. It is 
true, indeed, the few medical men who have entered the pro¬ 
fession have; with some exceptions, quitted it with disgust, 
and for the best of reasons; not because, as is stated, they are 
not horse-men, or not competent of fulfilling their duties, but 
because there has been little prospect of their rising with their 
profession into respectability, and because sentiments were held 
out to the public and pupils to their prejudice and interest. 
Not again, as I have heard it repeatedly stated, because he is 
fearful of soiling his fingers; for those who assert that must be 
very ignorant of humai; dissection and human practice. 
It is quite time the curtain was withdrawn; and that every 
man took his station according to his ability : it is this, and this 
only, which can place the veterinary upon a footing with the 
medical profession ; but so long as ignorance and vulgarity are 
allowed to take precedence of talent and gentlemanly conduct, 
so long will it continue in its degraded situation. The superior 
part of the profession have long felt how society look upon them 
as a body, not judging of individual merit or demeanour; but 
there are still left, I hope, a few men of education, who will 
coalesce to convince the public of the mis-statement, and prove 
VoL. I.—No. 4. p 
