CHARGES OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 167 
Mr. Sewell, of Brighton, did, we believe, establish his claim to a 
remuneration for visits as well as medicines; but others had 
attempted it and had failed. 
What is the usual nature and character of the veterinarian's 
practice ? He is consulted respecting a horse supposed to labour 
under some disease. He has one, two, or three miles to travel to 
see him. He finds, on examination, that a physic or diuretic 
ball, with a little rest, and a few mashes, are all that is required 
to restore the animal to health and work. But will the price of 
this ball fairly remunerate him for his trouble? Could he even 
get bread for his family ? What is the most conscientious prac¬ 
titioner to do ? He has a right to obtain a just equivalent for his 
attention and advice, and how must he obtain it? Not by doing 
any thing to injure or torture the poor animal, but by sending 
more medicine than was wanted, and by doing several little 
things that might as well be let alone. What is the consequence 
of this ? The owner sometimes begins to suspect that he is 
making a job of the business; and he becomes discontented, and 
is loth to employ the surgeon another time, and who thus suffers 
both in reputation and profit. 
His bill—what is it?—why a veiy fair one in amount; scarcely 
a compensation,—not a compensation for his labour and anxiety: 
but its items are composed of moving of plugs, and dressing of 
blisters, and rubbing in of oils, and administering of clysters, 
and balls, and drenches, and lotions, and many such like things, 
savouring of the old farrier’s school, and fatal to the respectable 
character we would assume, and to the assumption of which we 
are entitled. 
There are certain broad lines which mark the various grades of 
society, and custom has stamped them with authority. This 
retail way of conducting our profession,—these worse than chand¬ 
ler’s shop accounts, must necessarily exclude us from the circle 
in which we aspire to move ; or if, by courtesy, a few of us should 
be suffered to cross the line, unusual private worth, or literary or 
scientific attainments, must be our passport, and that of most pre¬ 
carious tenure and value. 
The medical profession was the last that was recognised. At 
