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THE VETERINARIAN, MARCH 1 , 1830 . 
Licet omnibus, licet etiam nobis , dignitatem artis veterinarice tueri.— Cicero. 
* K 
A recent decision in the Court of King’s Bench has afforded 
matter for gratulation to the general practitioners of human me¬ 
dicine. Mr. Handley, a surgeon-apothecary, had attended a 
patient during several weeks; and on his bill being demanded, 
had sent in an account of visits and medicines, and the medicines 
very few in number. He affixed no separate price or charge 
to the different items, but placed a sum, and a very moderate 
one, at the bottom of the list. The patient refused to pay for 
the visits ; but he tendered the amount of the medicines, at the 
apothecaries’ usual price. The practitioner persisted in demand¬ 
ing the whole sum, and, on this, issue was joined. 
Lord Tenterden, before whom the cause was tried, was of 
opinion, that on every ground of reason and justice,—for the 
respectability of the profession and the safety of the patient,— 
the medical man was entitled not only to charge for the drugs he 
might have occasion to use, but to demand a fair remuneration 
for the employment of his time and the exercise of his skill: 
and the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff to the whole amount. 
The importance of this decision is duly appreciated by the 
general practitioner; not as increasing his emolument, for in the 
majority of cases that will scarcely be affected, but as relieving 
him from many a source of annoyance and self-degradation ; as 
giving a new character to his profession, and elevating him to a 
desirable and deserved rank in society. 
The veterinary surgeon, although an inferior member, yet a 
member of the medical profession, is deeply interested in this de¬ 
cision. He, too, is, of necessity, a general practitioner , for there 
is and can be no distinction of surgeon and apothecary among 
us; and there is reason to hope that the dictum of the judge 
and the verdict of the jury would fully reach him. Our friend 
