374 
VETERINARY REFORM. 
are incompetent to practise the veterinary art; but the evil is too 
great to be borne : nor am I so bigotted as to think all those who 
have diplomas are good practitioners; but, on the contrary, I 
have no doubt there are many as well as myself who feel, and 
painfully feel, the deficiencies of education, and heartily wish 
they had devoted a much longer period to the acquirement of 
a real knowledge of the profession : however, be this as it may, 
it is not for us to quibble upon these points in a cause like this, 
for we must become united; and we shall accomplish, in a body, 
that which is impossible to be done individually. Let us lay 
aside all those jealousies which have existed between us, and 
boldly and fearlessly come forward with a heartfelt zeal for the 
future welfare of our most useful but insulted and degraded 
profession. 
I have only to add, that I am ready and willing to contribute 
my mite, and to make every exertion on my part to procure 
signatures and subscriptions, in order to defray the necessary 
expenses of a petition to the Legislature; and I will say, with 
Mr. Langworthy, should my humble exertions tend, in the least 
degree, to improve our condition, I shall always look upon it as 
the most useful period of my life. 
I cannot conclude without saying, that I am not so tyrannical 
as to wish to have those persons who have been getting their 
livelihood by practising the veterinary art (though not regularly 
educated and initiated into its principles) deprived of the support 
they may at present derive from it: my object is to legislate for 
the future; and that these persons shall not, under a severe 
penalty, take upon them the character and appearances of regular 
professors, by public advertisement, placing their names conspi¬ 
cuously over their doors, &c., as veterinary surgeons: so that the 
public may be no longer misled, and thereby be induced to em¬ 
ploy them under this assumed title. 
I am, gentlemen, 
With every respect, 
Your’s, very obediently, 
Melton-Mowbray, Samuel Brown. 
April 20, 1829. 
