THE VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
217 
possess every possible information respecting human anatomy, 
physiology, pathology, surgery, and medicine; but that is not 
a knowledge of veterinary subjects; and if I were to give an 
opinion as to any knowledge that would be useful to the veteri¬ 
nary pupil, in addition to his knowledge of veterinary anato¬ 
my, physiology, and pathology, it would be rather that of 
an agricultural nature than what merely appertains to human 
medicine. 
We all know that on the continent the medical schools are 
very much connected with veterinary science; but it is not so 
here. Our surgeons are not horsemen; they are, I believe, not 
veterinarians, although Sir Astley Cooper has a very good know¬ 
ledge of veterinary subjects. Notwithstanding, however, this lack 
of veterinary knowledge in medical men, we are lorded over—nay, 
our profession is governed entirely—by them. And the strange in¬ 
consistency is, that of those very medical men, some are surgeons, 
some physicians. 
They draw a clear and proper line between surgery and 
medicine: they will not allow the one to make an inroad upon 
the province of the other. They have not the power of inter¬ 
fering with one another; and they feel very delicate in appearing, 
on any occasion, to interfere with each other even in the 
slightest degree; yet these very surgeons and physicians think 
proper not only to interfere with, but entirely to govern us. 
I repeat, sir, they possess a knowledge not practically useful 
to us; and that if we wanted any knowledge in addition to that 
on veterinary subjects, it would be rather a knowledge of an 
agricultural than of a medical nature. If the veterinary surgeon 
possesses a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the 
horse, what does he want with that of the human subject? 
Again, if the. medical man possesses a knowledge of human ana¬ 
tomy, physiology, and pathology, what does he want with the 
anatomy and diseases of the horse ? I do not wish to throw 
any imputations on the researches of the medical man ; I know 
that Sir Astley Cooper has paid a great deal of attention to this 
subject; but still our profession forms a different branch of 
study to that of the medical man, and with which the medical 
man ought not to interfere to our detriment and exclusion. I 
am sure that no one can respect the medical examining com¬ 
mittee more than I do; but I cannot help thinking there is the 
greatest inconsistency in having them to decide on our veterinary 
knowledge, and to rule and govern our profession. 
Then it is said, their names are useful to us. Now r , if there 
be anything in what I have remarked, their names, rather than 
being useful to us, must have just the contrary effect; for if their 
