207 
ON PRIZE ESSAYS BY PUPILS, 
I 
To the Editor of the Veterinarian, 
Sir; 
YOUR well-known attachment to, and zeal for the improve^ 
ment of that profession which has the honour of ranking you 
amongst its members, assure me that the following suggestion 
will meet your attention. A thorough conviction of its utility ' 
in - advancing the respectability of future veterinarians has 
induced me thus to venture to offer it to your notice. I pro¬ 
pose that, each month, you offer a subject to be discussed by 
pupils (not having attended the college) of private practition¬ 
ers. Praise-worthy ambition is predominant in the mind of 
youth. Frank and generous^ they heed not pecuniary remune¬ 
ration, and the insertion in The Veterinarian’'of the best es¬ 
say will be a sufficient stimulus to exertion. By this means a 
spirit of emulation—that great incentive to industry—will be 
diffused amongst them; each will use every endeavour, will 
call forth every latent spark of talent, to gain the meed of fame. 
Not content with what they may merely hear or read, they 
will be convinced by ocular demonstration alone ; and, • to gain 
-ocular demonstration, they must and will have recourse to 
dissection. Thus, out of the great number of young men who 
annually enter the college, a few at least will commence a 
course of close and profound study, with some degree of -prepa¬ 
ration; they will in youth have acquired- habits of research 
and industry, which in manhood they will have no inclination 
to discard. Anonymous writing ought to be discouraged in 
young men, therefore it would be advisable' that every commu¬ 
nication should be made under a proper signature. However, 
I leave the subject for your consideration, confident that the 
decision you may come to will be for the good of the profes¬ 
sion. 
Yours, &c. 
W. H. 
• y 
