152 
ON VETEJUNAllY MEDICAL SOCIETIES. 
either of them by bony matter, yet, loose as it is, it is so locked 
in that it cannot be disjointed but with considerable difficulty 
and even fracture of some part. 
CTommunicattong anU CTa^e^. 
I have not willingly, wittingly, or wilfully shut the door against any 
worthy person, nor shall my prejudice (the porter in this kind) exclude any 
out of my book, who bring merit for their admission .’^—Fullers Worthies, 
✓ 
. — ^ ^ - * 
ON VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETIES. 
Sir, 
THE veterinary profession is much indebted to you for esta¬ 
blishing, through the medium of your journal, a communica¬ 
tion between its members. The discoveries and improvements 
which will be daily made in an infant art may now be widely 
disseminated ; and those errors detected which must necessa¬ 
rily attend us until we are fairly emancipated from the thral¬ 
dom of ignorance and empiricism. 
Something more, however, is wanting if veterinary science 
would attain that perfection at which we are beginning to 
aspire. In large towns and populous neighbourhoods, and 
especially in the metropolis, veterinary surgeons should be 
brought into nearer contact with each other. The peculiarities, 
and advantages, and defects of the practice of each would then 
be discussed and turned to mutual advantage. A friendly con¬ 
nexion and feeling would be produced and encouraged. Little 
jealousies, and misconceptions, and misrepresentations would 
cease to divide and injure us. We should become more iden¬ 
tified with the common interest and respectability of our art; 
and we should form that bond of union, which would, in spite 
of apathy or interested opposition, secure the rapid advance¬ 
ment of veterinary science. 
The London Veterinary Medical Society is an excellent insti¬ 
tution of this kind ; but it is principally confined to pupils. It 
is adapted to their situation and wants. It is contrived to put 
