TO VETERINARY STUDY. 
413 
to the profession, but in violation of the very principle on which 
the Veterinaiy College is founded. When Hunter and Cline, and 
a few more, 4he stars of their age, associated together to rescue 
the inferior creation from the ignorant and brutal treatment to 
which they were subjected, and founded a school for the improve- 
• ment of that art, which first began to exist under their fostering 
care, they marked out a course of study for the veterinary pupil; 
and they say at the close of it, It appears from the above divi¬ 
sion of subjects, that a teim of three years is sufficient for a com¬ 
plete education, provided the pupils are capable, assiduous, and 
well inclined.’^ Observe the peculiar manner in which the sen¬ 
tence is worded. No apology is made for the length of time 
required, but it is implied that it is the shortest possible time to 
perfect the.work; and, even then, supposing the pupil to be ca¬ 
pable and assiduous, and well inclined. It should likewise be 
remarked, that while there is no veterinary school in Europe 
but ours, in which all domestic animals are not included in the 
instructions of the professor, so there is not one in which a shorter 
period than two years is appointed. 
By what means, gentlemen, or by what law of yours the inten¬ 
tion of the founders, and the original practice of the English and 
of every European college ceased to be regarded, we know not; 
but it behoves you to inquire how far you are justified in this vio¬ 
lation of ancient usage. Those luminaries of their day, supported 
by the common consent of Europe, were not likely much to err; 
and you perhaps will find it difficult to prove that any nearer, or 
any other road to knowledge has been discovered, than that with 
which they were acquainted, and which they trod with so much 
credit to themselves and advantage to the community. 
Has or can any thing be urged in justification of this absurd 
and injurious deviation from the plan of the excellent founders of 
the Veterinary College ? 
We are told that the horse is subject to few diseases, and 
little time is requisite to become acquainted with them."” Who 
has discovered this ? John Hunter and Mr. Cline, and all the 
continental veterinarians, thought not so, or they ^ would not have 
named three years as the shortest duration of the pupil’s residence 
at the college. 
